The Janakpur Bolts, one of the teams in the Nepal Premier League (NPL), recently found itself at the centre of a controversy regarding its logo. The logo, which was revealed in November this year, is reportedly inspired by the iconic Janaki Mandir, dedicated to Mata Sita in Janakpur, Nepal. However, the logo sparked outrage among locals as they claimed it more closely resembles a mosque rather than the Hindu temple. Fans have alleged that by using such a logo, the team has disrespected the culture and religious sentiments of the devotees.
Understanding the issue
Since the launch of the Janakpur Bolts’ logo, the team has faced criticism for allegedly inaccurately depicting the Janaki Mandir. Notably, the temple is known as an emblem of Janakpur’s cultural identity and heritage. Social media users and critics have argued that the logo distorts the architectural beauty of the temple and thus undermines the pride of the Mithila region.
One of the social media users called the logo an insult to the cultural essence of Janakpur. He urged the organisers to rectify it at the earliest. Similarly, other social media users labelled the logo a “threat to the global reputation of the temple” and demanded immediate correction. On the other hand, some social media users called for restraint from making such comments, as it might harm the morale of the team.
What the franchise said
Following the controversy, the owner of the Janakpur Bolts franchise, Niroj Khatri, issued a statement and expressed regret over the confusion. He clarified that the logo was, in fact, designed using the front face of the Janaki Mandir. He further explained that they only used a partial depiction of the religious structure to ensure it complied with the rules and regulations set by the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the usage of religious symbols.
He added that such partial depiction might have led to unintended resemblance to a mosque. He further stated that the franchise would soon launch a video to demonstrate the logo’s inspiration and assured that it would be redesigned in the future. However, he noted that making changes this year is logistically impossible. The video was released on 28th November explaining the logo and the inspiration taken from the iconic temple.
The white-coloured Janaki Mandir has several big and small round domes on its top, and the Janakpur Bolts team chose to use the top part of the temple as its logo. But, due to the chosen design, the logo looks like a mosque with domes and minarets. However, the logo incorporates flags atop the shikhars, a defining feature of temples not found in mosques.
Although round domes are commonly associated with mosques, they are also used in Hindu temples, although not commonly.
ICC rules on religious symbols
The ICC prohibits the display of religious symbols or messages on team clothing or equipment without prior approval from the council. According to the ICC, these guidelines are in place to maintain cricket as an inclusive and neutral platform, keeping it free of divisive religious, political, or racial connotations. This restriction likely influenced the partial depiction of the Janaki Mandir on the logo, inadvertently contributing to the controversy.
