Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Unfortunate

All religions suffer when ultra-orthodox elements become powerful. Nothing illustrates this better than the recent action of the Puri Jagannath temple priests who suspended the rituals and buried food worth lakhs, meant as prasad for devotees, in a pit because an American entered the premises. It is unfortunate that a few who are appointed as priests are ignorant of the basic principles of their religion. Priests using rituals to humiliate and intimidate certain individuals and sections do not serve religion or spirituality in any manner.

T.S. Pattabhi Raman,
Coimbatore

* * *

S. Kasim and S. Babu, grandsons of Sheikh Chinna Moulana Sahib, are the asthana vidwans of the Sringeri Sharada Peetam and the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam. During the Brahmotsavam at Tirupati, they lead the procession. Chinna Moulana even became the asthana vidwan of the Ranganatha temple in Srirangam. Such being the culture practised in Hindu temples, the priests of the Jagannath temple should be ashamed.

Lvb. Selvaraj,
Chennai

* * *

If the behaviour of Jade Goody who bullied Shilpa Shetty on the Big Brother show was racist, so was that of the priests of the Jagannath temple. When we practise discrimination of caste and creed in our own country, we have no right to blame others. Our leaders should first campaign to end racism in our country and then take on other countries.

B. Thiagarajan,
Coimbatore

* * *

The burying of food is unpardonable. But how did the Chief Administrator of the temple, who is a representative of the State Government, allow the food to be buried? It is astonishing that no renowned Hindu acharya or organisation has so far condemned this act.

D. Sarveson,
Thiruvananthapuram

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