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Upset Hindus urge Brazilian brewery to withdraw Ganesha & Vishnu beers
 
Upset Hindus have urged Amparo (Sao Paulo, Brazil) based “award-winning” Cervejaria Ashby brewery to apologize and withdraw Ganesha and Vishnu beers; calling these highly inappropriate.
 
“Ganesha Ambar IPA” and “Vishnu Red IPA” beers carry the picture of respective Hindu deity.
 
Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts or symbols for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the devotees.
 
Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, indicated that Lord Ganesha and Lord Vishnu were highly revered in Hinduism and they were meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to be used in selling beer for mercantile greed. Moreover, linking these deities with an alcoholic beverage was very disrespectful, Zed added.
 
Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken frivolously. Symbols of any faith, larger or smaller, should not be mishandled, Rajan Zed noted.
 
Cervejaria Ashby, which describes itself as “Brazilian breakfast tradition since 1993” and claims to be the “first microbrewery in Brazil”, states: The Brewery unites the tradition of the best brewery schools in the world with the Brazilian flavor.  Ashby; whose products include beer, chopps and California cooler; claims to have over 100 distributors serving the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Paraná and Goiás.  Scott Alan Ashby, founder and master-brewer of the brewery, is stated to have graduated as a brewmaster at California University. It claims to be “inspired by the North American and European breweries” and uses water from Serra da Mantiqueira.
 
Vishnu Red IPA, with 45 IBU, has alcohol content of 5.8%; while Ganesha Ambar IPA, with 40 IBU, has alcohol content of 5.4%. Amparo, known for its Winter Festival, is the seat of Roman Catholic Diocese of Amparo.

Hindu temple opening in California’s Santa Clarita in few months
 
Sri Siddhi Vinayaka Temple Santa Clarita (SSVTSC), where the main deity will be Lord Ganesh, is claiming grand-opening in early 2017.
 
Mission of Sri Siddhi Vinayaka Temple of SSVTSC, a non-profit organization, is “to serve Santa Clarita community by offering a place to worship, practice spirituality, celebrate festivals and cultural activities”. When launched, it is reportedly planned to have daily prayers in the temple besides various activities/programs for everyone round the year. Currently the funds are being raised. Temple leaders reportedly include Ritu Khadiya.
 
Meanwhile, distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, commended efforts of temple leaders and area community towards realizing this Hindu temple.
 
Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that it was important to pass on Hindu spirituality, concepts and traditions to coming generations amidst so many distractions in the consumerist society and hoped that this temple would help in this direction. Zed stressed that instead of running after materialism; we should focus on inner search and realization of Self and work towards achieving moksh (liberation), which was the goal of Hinduism.
 
In Hinduism, Lord Ganesh is worshipped as god of wisdom and remover of obstacles and is invoked before the beginning of any major undertaking. Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world has about one billion adherents. There are about three million Hindus in USA.
 
Incorporated in 1987, City of Santa Clarita is claimed to be “one of the best places to live in California”. Notable people associated with it include Oscar winner filmmaker Tim Burton, Olympian gold medalists track-field sprinter Allyson Felix and swimmer Anthony Ervin, etc. Cameron Smyth and Dr. Kenneth W. Striplin are Mayor and City Manager respectively.