Indian-American man forced to hide his Ganesha idol before putting up his property for sale in Texas

An Indian-American man in Texas said he was told to remove a statue of the Hindu god Ganesha from his home before listing the property for sale. The homeowner, who asked not to be named, said his real estate agent advised that the idol could make the house harder to sell.

The man said he was initially surprised by the request but complied because he wanted to avoid any potential issues with buyers. He placed the Ganesha statue in a closet during showings and open houses.

The incident has drawn attention to what some see as cultural insensitivity in the housing market. Real estate experts say that while agents may suggest depersonalizing a home to appeal to a broad range of buyers, religious symbols should be handled with care.

The homeowner said he eventually sold the property but felt uncomfortable having to hide his faith. He hopes the experience will encourage more awareness among real estate professionals about diverse cultural practices.