The Indian government has intervened on behalf of the Hindu community in Australia, lodging a diplomatic protest over a television advertisement featuring the god Ganesha enjoying lamb.

In the advertisement, produced by a meat industry lobby group, Ganesha is one of a dozen religious figures seated at a raucous barbecue lunch.

The depiction of elephant-headed Ganesha, who is widely considered to be vegetarian, was met with anger in Australia's Hindu community.

The Indian High Commission in Canberra protested to three Australian Federal government departments over the advertisement, which was launched last week by marketing body Meat and Livestock Australia.

Elephant-headed Ganesha is shown sharing a lamb lunch and red wine with figures including Jesus, Zeus, Aphrodite, L. Ron Hubbard and a man wearing what appears to be Jedi robes.

When the founder of Scientology is ticked off for mentioning religion over dinner he protests: “I gave up dinner with Tom Cruise for this!”