Lord Jagannath ‘Doormat' On AliExpress Sparks Massive Outrage: ‘Shameless...Disrepecting Hinduism'
The floor mat has hurt the religious sentiments of many Hindus, particularly in Odisha, where Lord Jagannath is deeply revered.
A doormat featuring the image of Lord Jagannath, one of the most sacred deities in Hindu culture, has sparked outrage after being listed on Chinese-owned e-commerce platform AliExpress. The floor mat, meant for wiping feet, has hurt the religious sentiments of many Hindus particularly in Odisha where Lord Jagannath is deeply revered.
Photos of the product, which display the deity's face printed on the mat along with an image of someone stepping on it, have been widely circulated on social media. The listing describes it as a 'Non-slip soft water uptake carpet" and shows a price of around Rs 787.
Outraged to see the sacred image of Mahaprabhu Jagannath on a doormat that @AliExpress_EN is selling. As an Odia and one among millions of devotees, this is unacceptable. I see a deeper conspiracy by this Chinese eCommerce site, already banned in India. It's just the latest in a…— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) July 30, 2025
Strong Reactions
Madhab Pujapanda, a former member of the Shree Jagannath Temple Management Committee, expressed outrage over the product. He urged the temple administration to alert both the Odisha state government and the central government and also called for diplomatic intervention with Chinese authorities to put an end to the sale of such disrespectful items.
'This is not just an isolated case. There is a growing pattern where sacred Jagannath-related terminology like Mahaprasad and Patitapaban Bana are being misused for profit. Though steps have been initiated to legally protect these religious symbols and terms, the process needs to be accelerated," Pujapanda told Sambad.
Former MP and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Amar Patnaik also spoke out against the product.
'I vehemently condemn the egregious act of selling doormats with the sacred image of Lord Jagannath on AliExpress! This shameless profanity is an affront to the deepest sentiments of millions of devotees, trampling upon the revered iconography with utter disregard. It's a desecration of the highest order, and those responsible must be held accountable," Patnaik wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
'The fact that Lord Jagannath's image is being used as a mere commodity is a stark reminder of the blatant disrespect towards Hinduism. Immediate action is imperative to rectify this egregious wrongdoing and restore dignity to the revered deity," he added.
I vehemently condemn the egregious act of selling doormats with the sacred image of Lord Jagannath on AliExpress! This shameless profanity is an affront to the deepest sentiments of millions of devotees, trampling upon the revered iconography with utter disregard. It's a… pic.twitter.com/pnPOVA2Pl1 — Dr. Amar Patnaik (@Amar4Odisha) July 29, 2025
Online Outrage
Social media users have also voiced disapproval with many demanding immediate removal of the product.
One user commented, 'What is this Ali Express? You are selling doormats featuring Lord Jagannath, a deeply revered deity worshipped by Hindus across the world. Take it down immediately. This is a shameful act of disrespect by AliExpress."
Another wrote, 'We do not support or endorse the sale of such items and strongly urge sellers to consider the cultural and spiritual implications of their products. Respect for faith and tradition must always come before profit."
Several people pointed out that the act seemed intentional. 'People really don't have any common sense, I think this is done knowingly," someone said while a person added, 'Time and again these companies do such shameful act. They only do purposely to gain popularity by hurting Hindu's sentiments."
'Ali Express this is disrespect of 2 billion Hindus worldwide! Remove it immediately!" an individual stated.
Lord Jagannath is regarded as a form of Lord Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Vishnu. Known as the 'Lord of the Universe," he is worshipped along with his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra. The Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, is a major centre of devotion and pilgrimage.
One of the most important festivals associated with the deity is the annual Ratha Yatra in Puri. During this grand celebration, the three siblings are taken out in decorated chariots and pulled through the streets by thousands of devotees.
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First Published:
July 30, 2025, 15:07 IST
News viral Lord Jagannath 'Doormat' On AliExpress Sparks Massive Outrage: 'Shameless...Disrepecting Hinduism'
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