Hindu community upset with U.K. Christmas stamp

Stanley Gibbons reports that one of the Royal Mail’s 2005 Christmas stamps has caused controversy among the Hindu community.

The 68p stamp depicts a man and woman, both with Hindu markings, worshipping Christ, an image that Ramesh Kallidai, secretary general of the Hindu Forum of Britain, says is insensitive.

"It is the equivalent of having a vicar in a dog collar bowing down to Lord Ram on a Diwali stamp," he said. "These things need to be done with sensitivity.

Gibbons says Irene Von Treskow, the stamp’s designer and an Anglican priest has defended her choice of imagery by insisting that the painting which the stamp is based upon is simply ‘17th century art’.

A spokesman for Royal Mail said that no offence had been intended and that "we thought it would be nice to return to a religious theme."

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