Online Webinar – The Western Obsession with Misrepresenting Hindu Deities

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This webinar examines how Hindu Dharma has been repeatedly distorted through Western colonial, missionary, and academic lenses. It explores the persistent Western fixation—shaped by theology, racial theory, and Orientalist scholarship—that misrepresented Hindu deities, symbols, and sacred imagery for centuries. Through historical analysis and contemporary examples, the session uncovers how these misreadings continue in modern media and consumer culture. Participants will gain insight into the roots of these biases and strategies for encouraging accurate, respectful representation.

Leading us through this complex issue is Dr. Monalisa Behera, Assistant Professor of Art History at Somaiya Vidyavihar University in Mumbai, whose research focuses on ritual, iconography, and sacred visual cultures of ancient and medieval India, especially goddess traditions.