Hindus are urging Opéra National de Bordeaux (ONB) in Bordeaux (France) to withdraw Lakmé opera; scheduled for February 24-26, 2026; which they feel seriously trivializes Hindu religious and other traditions. 

Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that a renowned institution like ONB should not be in the business of callously promoting appropriation of traditions, elements and concepts of “others”; and ridiculing entire communities.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, indicated that this deeply problematic opera was just a blatant belittling of a rich civilization and exhibited 19th-century orientalist attitudes. He also urged ONB to apologize for such an inappropriate selection. 

ONB should have shown some maturity before selecting an opera like Lakmé (Lakshmi), displaying Western caricaturing of Eastern heritage and abetting ethnic stereotyping, Rajan Zed noted. 

Rajan Zed suggested ONB Board President Dimitri Boutleux, Director General Emmanuel Hondré, Musical Director Joseph Swensen to re-evaluate ONB systems and procedures and send its executives for cultural sensitivity training so that such inappropriate stuff did not slip through in the future. 

Like many others, Hindus also consider opera as one of the revered art forms which offers richness and depth. But we are well into 21st century now, and outdated Lakmé, which premiered in 1883 in Paris, is long overdue for permanent retirement from the world stage; Zed points out. ONB claims to showcase 250 performances on average and receives 230,000 visitors. Lakmé, a French opera in three acts, was composed by Léo Delibes and set in India in the mid-19th century.