iWorld
Twitter trends #BoycottAmazon for selling Om printed doormats
NEW DELHI: Outrage seems to be the flavour of the season. Days after jewellery brand Tanishq was roundly criticised for a Diwali-themed ad campaign that promoted cracker-free celebrations, it’s now e-commerce giant Amazon’s turn to face online brickbats. Twitterverse was abuzz today with calls of #BoycottAmazon after pictures of the e-tailer selling doormats with Om printed on it started doing the rounds.
A section of social media slammed Amazon for disrespecting Hindu culture by demeaning the auspicious Om symbol in this manner. Others posted screenshots of themselves deleting the e-commerce app from their smartphones. The trend led to people sharing further incriminating content on the retail platform: of various products and apparel like shorts and underwear emblazoned with images of Hindu gods and goddesses.
I #BoycottAmazon for defaming hinduism pic.twitter.com/S7Pur7a0yz
— TRINATH MISHRA (@TRINATHMISHRA16) November 10, 2020
Amazon has hurt the sentiments of India and Hindus.For this, all Indians should boycott Amazon. @amazonIN @amazon #BoycottAmazon pic.twitter.com/RyaylBnflt
— preeti gurjar (@preeti7401) November 10, 2020
#BoycottAmazon Fipkart is a better counter-part pic.twitter.com/SKxGKEM2Lu
— अरे भाई भाई भाई (@MaaKaBhosdaaa) November 10, 2020
Yet others pointed out the double standards of those calling out Amazon for purportedly offending Hindu sentiments, alleging they’re the same people who burst crackers bearing images of goddess Laxmi (or Laxmi bomb) and leave the streets littered with firecracker remains after Diwali.
#BoycottAmazon This is really Famous banne ki Ninja Technique, bcos They are the same People who burst Firecrackers with Laxmi Mata photo on ( #LaxmiBomb ) it and let the trash Left on the Road after they get orgasm by burning cracker ( Joke ) so where is Hinduism there ? pic.twitter.com/aioQRVlYsT
— SUMEET KUMAR (@sumeetkumar2524) November 10, 2020
For the record, it should be noted that these products are not available in India, but sold on the European and American portals of the site.
This isn't the first time Amazon has landed itself in hot water by getting on the wrong side of Indian customers. Earlier in January, pictures had surfaced of the e-commerce giant selling bathroom rugs and doormats with photos of Lord Ganesha. In 2019, toilet seat covers and mats with Hindu gods were spotted on the platform.
In 2017, then external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had demanded an unconditional apology from the online retailer for selling Indian flag-themed doormats. She'd threatened to stop issuing visas to Amazon officials if the products were not withdrawn from the site.
iWorld
Samay Raina returns with Still Alive, confronts 2025 controversy in bold comeback special
Comeback set tackles controversy, blending humour with raw storytelling
MUMBAI: Samay Raina is set to release his new stand-up comedy special, Still Alive, on YouTube on April 7, 2026, marking a high-profile return following a turbulent year.
The trailer for the special dropped on April 5, offering a glimpse into what Raina describes as a raw and unfiltered set that leans as much on honesty as it does on humour.
Positioned as a comeback of sorts, Still Alive draws heavily from the controversy surrounding his show India’s Got Latent in early 2025. The episode led to legal trouble, multiple FIRs, and a lengthy six-hour interrogation by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell, placing the comedian at the centre of intense public scrutiny.
Rather than sidestep the episode, Raina leans into it. The special reflects on the fallout and his personal journey through it, blending observational comedy with moments of emotional candour. Early audience feedback from live performances suggests the tone is less about rapid-fire punchlines and more about storytelling with bite.
The special was filmed during his global Still Alive & Unfiltered tour, which ran from August 2025 to early 2026. The tour saw Raina perform across major international venues, including the Madison Square Garden Theatre in New York, a milestone that places him among the youngest Indian comedians to take that stage.
The title itself signals resilience. “Still Alive” is a nod to navigating both legal and public backlash while choosing to remain unapologetically authentic, a theme that appears to anchor the set.
With the special set to premiere online, all eyes are now on how audiences respond to a performance that promises equal parts reflection and wit. For Raina, the message is clear. He is not just back, he is ready to be heard on his own terms.
