Activist objects to museum selling toys of Hindu deities

BOSTON (AP) — A Hindu rights activist is calling on a Massachusetts museum to stop selling children’s plush toys representing three Hindu deities, which he says are “insensitive.” Universal Society of Hinduism President Rajan Zed said toys depicting Lord Krishna, Lord Ganesh and Lord Hanuman were available on the Peabody Essex Museum’s online shop last week but had been removed by Tuesday. A spokesperson said  the museum halted sales of the toys while it reviewed the complaint, but they will be back on sale shortly. The museum pointed out that the toys are widely available and made by a company founded by an Indian American family.