Hindu community, supporters protest company's use of deity in logo alongside profanity

WARNING: This story contains offensive language.

Dozens of people gathered at theLaxmi Narayan Temple in Surrey, B.C., on Saturday afternoon to protest what they describe as the offensive use of a Hindudeityin a B.C. company's logo.

The protesters accuse the company, Big D--kEnergy Coaching,of using inappropriate languageunderneath a photoof Lord Ganesha adeitywith an elephant head, known as theHindu godof wealth, sciences, knowledge, wisdomand prosperity.

The protest was organized by the Vedic Hindu Cultural Society. Demonstrators, carrying signs, marched from theLaxmi Narayan Temple to the corner of King George Boulevard and 88 Avenue.

"You cannot use another community's faith, and use it just to promote your business," said Tarana M. Kaur, one of the organizers.

The society's president,Satish Kumar, said the community is asking the company's owner to remove the image of Ganesha from the logo.

Kaur said several members of the South Asiancommunityhave reached out the owner, who has refused to remove the image of the deity.

Kauralso said they have started an online petition to remove the image from the logo, whichhas gathered more than 2,500 signatures so far.

Surrey Members of ParliamentRandeep SaraiandSukh Dhaliwal have shown support for the removal of the imagefrom the logo, according to Kaur, but they're hoping more politicians will publicly condemn the use of the deity's image.

"We need someone to take action, we cannot bear this kind of disrespect," she said.

Hindu community members have contactedthe RCMP, but Kaur said police told them they couldn't do anything about the matter.

The company's website says it provides "coaching forrelationship and passion management, ultimate business pro mentorship and master coaching and mentorship."

CBC News phoned and emailed the business ownerto request an interview.

No interview was granted, but a text message was sent from the number listed on the company's website. The message said the owner has not made any remarks nor done anything to condone any form of hate speech or derogatory misuse of Ganesha.

Attempts made by CBC News to clarify whether the owner plans to continue using the imagewere unsuccessful.