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It Happens Only in India

Xenophobic God or Racist Temples

By: Santosh :+: Under: It Happens Only in India, Opinion, Religion
On: ⋅ March 6, 2007 ⋅  Email this post ⋅  Print this post ⋅ Post a comment
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By now the blogosphere is buzzing (1,2) with the news of the Jagannath Temple destroying, literally, enough food to feed an army.

The media and bloggers rightfully question the wisdom of wasting such a massive quantity of food in a country where millions of people go to bed hungry on a daily basis, and they are not doing that to lose weight. Such food wastage happens all over the world, Olive Garden chains probably throw away as much food on a daily basis but America is the land of excess and food wastage is not really a big deal there.

Then comes the question of unconcealed and blatant racism and discrimination.

Foreigners are not allowed to enter Hindu temples in Orissa, including the Jagannath temple at Puri and the Lingaraj temple here.
An American woman, Pamela K Fleig, who had converted from Christianity to Hinduism after marrying an Uttar Pradesh resident, was denied entry into the 11th century Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar in 2005.

Thailand’s Crown Princess Sirindhorn was also not allowed to visit the Jagannath temple the same year, as she is a foreigner and a Buddhist.

Even former prime minister Indira Gandhi — born a Hindu — was not allowed to enter the temple when she was in power as she had married a Parsi.

These are just some of the more publicized incidences of racism and discrimination rampant in Indian society. We don’t hestiate to play victims when we are on the receiving end, however tenuous the evidence might be (google “Shilpa Shetty Jane Goody Big Brother”). I wonder will be the outcome of this blatant display of racism and discrimination exhibited by this temple.

As for the food, here’s an idea if it will “defile” you, feed the urchins and beggars outside your temple or have it shipped to the nearest army cantonment. Those army folks are doing something useful by defending the nation instead of sitting on their pompous kundis, judging people by their skin and culture.

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