A wave of shock and outrage has swept across Odisha as devotees discovered Lord Jagannath’s revered image printed on doormats being sold via the Chinese e-commerce platform AliExpress.
Despite being banned in India, the platform continues operations overseas — enabling the circulation of these controversial products under listings like “Lord Jagannath Mandala Art Mat Doorway” and “Krishna Hindu God.”
The incident has triggered emotional distress among Jagannath devotees, who view this depiction as a grave insult to their faith. The mats, reportedly advertised for foot-wiping and promoted for their anti-slip and water-absorbent properties, feature imagery associated with divine reverence — now seen trampled upon both literally and metaphorically.
Madhab Pujapanda, a former member of the Shree Jagannath Temple Management Committee, strongly condemned the act and demanded immediate action from the temple administration and both state and central governments. “This isn’t just about one product. Terms like Mahaprasad and Patitapaban Bana have been misused commercially many times. The sacred identity of the temple must be protected through swift copyright enforcement,” he stated.
In light of repeated misuse of Jagannath-related symbols, temple authorities are being urged to expedite legal protections of these terms and images. Several devotees have taken to social media, tagging officials and demanding a formal ban on such items, while also calling for diplomatic efforts to engage the country where the platform is hosted.
