ONE of the UK’s largest commercial dairies has been forced to apologise after holding a session of “cow yoga.”

Lancashire Farm Dairies, the UK’s third-largest natural yoghurt brand, apologised to the Hindu community after a recent session of cow yoga at Leyland Farm.

The session will not be held again, after members of the Hindu community said it “it trivializes two serious concepts of Hinduism.”

The protest was spearheaded by Rajan Zed, a Hindu statesman.

In an email to Mr Zed, Jack Morrison, Brand Manager at LFD, wrote: “We can only apologise if the recent fitness activity has caused offence.

“As you can imagine this wasn’t our intent…there will not be further events.2

Mr Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, thanked LFD for understanding the concerns of Hindu community.

He suggested that companies like LFD should send their senior executives for training in religious and cultural sensitivity so that they had an understanding of the feelings of customers and communities when introducing new products, organizing events or launching advertising campaigns.

Zed had stated that cow, the seat of many deities, which was sacred and had long been venerated in Hinduism; should not be used as prop for human entertainment. Moreover; this frivolity seemed to be diluting the profound, sacred and ancient discipline of yoga.

He said: “Real yogis should not attend such events where cows were inappropriately used, causing unnecessary disturbance to cows and putting them in stressful situations.

“Cows should be left well alone and accorded the respect they deserved.”

Rajan Zed added that the event should be discouraged before it became “a trendy fad” that would see “herds of people” flocking for an “Instagram opportunity.”