In Mumbai, Bajrang Dal members disrupted a children’s event, compelling kids to recite the Hanuman Chalisa instead of celebrating Christmas. Similarly, in Lucknow, a group led by ISKCON chanted “Hare Krishna” outside a church during Christmas celebrations, provoking tension. In Rohtak, VHP and Bajrang Dal stormed a Christmas event, accusing organizers of religious conversion, while in Dehradun, Bajrang Dal leaders spread baseless accusations of Christian conversion efforts. Moreover, in Bapunagar, VHP halted a school program, criticizing children’s involvement in Christmas celebrations.

Hindutva group forces Zomato delivery boy to strip Santa attire: Indore

A Zomato rider in Indore was forced by members of the right-wing Hindu Jagran Manch to remove his Santa Claus costume on Christmas Day. The incident, which has since gone viral, shows the rider being questioned by an off-camera individual. The rider, identified as Arjun, explains that Zomato provided the Santa costumes to some delivery agents for the occasion.

 

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The person off-camera criticizes the rider, asking why Zomato does not ask riders to wear costumes representing Hindu festivals, such as Lord Ram’s attire or saffron clothes. Despite the rider’s pleas of ignorance, he is told to remove the costume immediately. The individual insists, “Arjun bhai, we are Hindus. What message are you sending with this Santa costume?” as Hindustan Times reported

The rider’s concerns that his company ID could be blocked are ignored as he is ordered to take off the red jacket and trousers. The video has sparked widespread outrage, with critics questioning the growing intolerance and politicization of festive celebrations.

Bajrang Dal stopped Christmas event and recite “Hanuman Chalisa”: Mumbai

On December 22, in Kashimira, Mumbai, Maharashtra, members of the Bajrang Dal disrupted a Christmas celebration. The incident occurred when the group intervened during a children’s event, forcing the children to recite the Hanuman Chalisa and chant “Jai Shree Ram.” The Bajrang Dal members reportedly criticized the event organizers, accusing them of attempting to make the children pray during a Christmas celebration. They insisted that the children must remain “kattar” (staunch) Hindus and disapproved of any religious activities they viewed as conflicting with their beliefs.

The incident has drawn attention to the increasing polarization in some areas of the country, where religious celebrations are continuously targeted by right-wing outfits.

ISKCON people raised “Hare Krishna Hare Ram” during Christmas event: Lucknow

On December 25, a controversial incident unfolded outside St. Joseph Cathedral in Hazratganj, Lucknow, during Christmas celebrations. A group of right-wing individuals, including members of the ISKCON, began reciting “Hare Ram, Hare Krishna” while performing a devotional ‘keertan’ outside the church. A video of the event quickly spread on social media, showing the participants raising chants like “Har Har Mahadev” and “Jai Shri Krishna.” The group also declared, “We are Sanatanis, we will not say Merry Christmas, but Hare Krishna Hare Ram,”

In #UttarPradesh‘s #Lucknow, a group of #Hindus raised chants of “Hare Krishna Hare Ram” near #HazratGanjCathedral during #Christmas celebrations on December 25.

The group chanted, “We are #Sanatanis; We will not say #MerryChristmas, but ‘#HareKrishnaHareRam.'” pic.twitter.com/DI2TjL6sk2

— Hate Detector (@HateDetectors) December 26, 2024

The incident has ignited a fierce debate online, with supporters of the right-wing group defending their actions as a display of religious pride and an expression of their beliefs. Critics, however, view this act as an unnecessary provocation, arguing that it affects the spirit of communal harmony and disrupts peaceful religious observances.

Right-wing outfits disrupted Christmas celebration, recite Hanuman Chalisa: Rohtak

On December 25, in a Christmas celebration organized at a Dharamshala in Rohtak, Haryana, turned chaotic even before it could start on Wednesday when members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal stormed the venue, alleging that the event was a guise for religious conversion. The protestors climbed onto the stage and began reciting the ‘Hanuman Chalisa,’ disrupting the event. WWE wrestler ‘The Great Khali,’ who had been invited as the chief guest, left the hotel where he was staying and did not attend the event, even as police intervened to disperse the protestors. Authorities also instructed the organizers to call off the event to maintain peace. The VHP and Bajrang Dal activists demanded that Christmas celebrations be confined strictly to churches. As Times of India reported

Mahant Swami Anubhoot Suryavanshi of Bajrang Dal, who led the protest, claimed that while everyone has the right to celebrate their faith, the organizers of the Rohtak event allegedly promised money and healing from illnesses in an attempt to “convert attendees.” However, Rakesh, a person linked to the organizers, refuted the allegations. According to Times of India, he clarified that the event was purely a Christmas celebration, focused on spreading hope and sharing the word of God with those in distress. “We were not converting anyone,” he said.

Bajrang Dal accused Christians of luring Hindus into conversion with money, food, and clothes: Dehradun

On December 24, Vikas Verma, a Bajrang Dal leader, made controversial remarks during a Hanuman Chalisa gathering in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. He targeted Christians with baseless accusations, questioning Christmas celebrations at the Clock Tower and labeling families allowing children to wear Santa hats as “already converted.” Verma further claimed that Christians were enticing Hindus into conversion with financial incentives, food, and clothing.

He also criticized convent schools and wrongly asserted that Hindus have no rights in Christian-majority countries. His statements stirred tension, promoting religious divisions and spreading misinformation

Vishwa Hindu Parishad halted Christmas celebrations: Bapunagar

In a similar incident, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal intervened during a school program in the Nawa Naroda block of the Bapunagar district, halting the event. They argued that children are embodiments of God, not clowns, and insisted that children should be raised as “Sanatani” (followers of Hinduism) rather than adopting Western influence, symbolized by the term “English.”

विश्व हिंदू परिषद बजरंग दल बापूनगर जिला के नवा नरोड़ा प्रखंड में स्कूल जाकर चल रहे प्रोग्राम को बंद कराया

सभी को बताया बच्चे भगवान का रुप होते जोकर का नहीं

बच्चों को अंग्रेज नहीं सनातनी बनाओ

देश का दल बजरंग दल pic.twitter.com/NgrPM53g6S

— Tiger Raja Satire (@TigerRajaSinggh) December 25, 2024

The group also raised slogans such as “Bharat ka Dal Bajrang Dal,” advancing their communal agenda and promoting hate against the diversity of festivals.

Related

Christmas under siege: right-wing target Christmas celebrations across states, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala

This was a sad Christmas”, say India’s Christians, navigating the shadows of hatred

Hindutva’s “rice bag converts” controversy

The post Right-wing outfits disrupt Christmas across the country, alleged religious conversion through events appeared first on SabrangIndia.

As the next General elections are approaching the RSS-BJP have activated their attempts to woo the Christian community. As such the present plight of Christian community is reflected in various national-international reports and indices of religious freedom. Two incidents of persecution take place every day as per Vada Na Todo Abhiyan (Don’t break your promise, Campaign). In UP “…100 pastors and even ordinary men and women, are in jail under charges of illegal conversions when all they were doing was celebrating birthdays or conducting Sunday prayers.”

Government is also investigating agencies against Cardinal and Pastors as per the memorandum cited above. As per United Christian Forum 302 attacks took place against Christians in the first seven months of 2022. A petition filed by Archbishop Peter Machado, National Solidarity Forum and Evangelical Fellowship of India states that “state has failed to take immediate and necessary action against groups that have caused widespread violence and used hate speech against the Christian community, including attacks at their places of worship and disruption of prayer meetings.”

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has for the fourth consecutive year declared India as a country of particular concern and asked the US Administration to make their policies accordingly.

As per Open Doors, “Since the current government came to power in May 2014 pressure on Christians has risen dramatically… Hindu extremists attack others with impunity, using extreme violence in some area…Increasing numbers of states are also implementing anti-conversion laws, supposedly to stop Hindus being forcibly converted to other religions, but in reality, they are often used as an excuse to harass and intimidate Christians…Being a pastor is one of the riskiest vocations in the country today. Hindu extremists target them with violent attacks to sow fear in the wider Christian community.”

The present plight of Christian community is rooted in the Hindu Nationalist discourse where Islam and Christianity are regarded as foreign religions. RSS’s second Sarsanghchalak, M.S. Golwalkar in his book Bunch of Through states that Muslims, Christians and Communists are an internal threat to Hindu nation.

The RSS propaganda in Shakhas is conducted on these lines. With the increase in intensity of Hindu nationalist activities the anti-Christian violence began in the Adivasi areas to begin with. The propaganda was that Christian missionaries are doing conversion through force fraud and allurement. As such Christianity is one of the oldest religions of India. One account says that it began with St Thomas arriving on Malabar Coast and setting up a Church in AD 52. Other accounts date it to somewhere in 4^th Century AD. Today the percentage of Christians in India, as per the population census is 2.3% (2011). Interestingly there is constant drop in this from 1971 data, 1971- 2.60%, 1981-2.44%. 1991-2.34%, 2001- 2.30%, 1911-2.30% (Population census figures.)

The constant propaganda on these lines led to rise in anti-Christian violence manifesting in Dangs (Gujarat, December 25 1998 to January 3, 1999). This was followed by the most ghastly burning alive of Pastor Graham Stains on the night of 22^nd January 1999 by RSS affiliate Bajrang Dal’s activist Rajendra Pal aka Dara Singh, who is currently undergoing life term. This act was described by the then President of India Dr. K.R. Narayanan is the one belonging to the “World’s inventory of black deeds”. Stains was an Australian missionary working in Keonjhar, Manoharpur, Orissa. When he was sleeping in the open jeep with his two sons Timothy and Philip, Dara Singh mobilized people to burn him, the charge was that in the garb of work for Leprosy patients, he was doing the conversion work.

The Wadhva Commission formed in the aftermath concluded that Pastor Stains was not involved in the work of conversions and that there was no increase in the population of Christians in the area where he was working. The incidents of anti-Christian violence continued in remote areas mostly around Christmas time. The violence which flared up in Kandhamal in August 25, 2008 was the most horrific and led to the killings of over 100 Christians, many acts of heinous rape and many Churches were burnt.

The anti-Christian violence is a low radar activity where the priests working in remote areas are apprehended when they are conducting the prayer meetings in particular. The Bajrang Dal and its clones obstruct these meetings and many of the priests are arrested and harassed.

One such act of prolonged violence is currently going on in Manipur for the last seven months. The Kukis, who are predominantly Christians, are under the hammer with double Engine Sarkar, I Manipur and Centre both it is BJP Government. The Prime Minister clearly indicated that controlling this ongoing anti-Christian violence is not among his priorities. He has been travelling all over but no time for Manipur. The social activists and brave journalists have made some efforts to visit the area and douse the fire, but with an apathetic Government such deep cleavages cannot be repaired.

The present effort of Prime Minister Modi is primarily aimed at image creation optics for electoral gains. In Kerala many affluent Christians are being lured by this Hindu majoritarian politics. Surely some of the top religious leadership is also tempted to associate with the present regime to save their skin from the pangs of ED-IT etc.

We need to realize the strategy being employed by Modi and company to on one hand marginalize the Christian community and on the other to woo them for electoral benefits.

The post Modi’s Attempt to Woo Christian Community appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The public campaign, titled Not in our Name, Christmas Celebrations with Prime Minister, galvanised 3,100 signatures in just a few days. Evocatively worded, the statement speaks of the ongoing tensions in Manipur (since May 3, 2023) when Kuki Zo and Meitei Christians have been a special target as also the targeted attacks on the community in Uttar Pradesh and even Chhattisgarh.

The statement affixed to the signature campaign states:

“We are in the Christmas Season: a time when we are all called to internalize and actualize the gifts of joy, love, peace, truth, justice and hope which Jesus our Saviour offers to us!

“Today we also need to take legitimate pride in the fact that Christians in India have contributed significantly to the country: in the freedom struggle, as members of the Constituent Assembly, and ever since independence, in every sphere of public life particularly in the educational, medical, social, cultural and political sectors. The services of the Christian community to the poor and marginalized, the excluded and the exploited, irrespective of caste and creed, is unparalleled in the nation today. This fact has been duly and consistently acknowledged by citizens from all walks of life.

“However in the recent past, particularly since 2014, Christians in India have been victims of continued attacks and vilification from members of the ruling regime, all over the country. Christians and Christian schools and institutions have been hounded and harassed, their places of worship destroyed, they have been denied their ordinary rights as citizens and been subject to denigration and demonization. The anti-conversion laws which have been put into place in BJP-ruled States are used as weapons against the fundamental right to preach, practise and propagate one’s religion. Celebrations in schools have been stopped and Christians have been arrested without any warrant and put behind bars for no offence of theirs.

“Since May 3, 2023, the Christians of Manipur have been subject to constant attacks which still continues unabated and with apparent approval from the BJP Governments both in the State and at the Centre.

“In the wake of all this, it is ironic that the Prime Minister hosted around 100 Christian representatives of different denominations on Christmas morning for a celebration. While it is certainly within his right as Prime Minister to host a reception for whomsoever he wishes one naturally would question the intention of this reception when he has not condemned a single attack on the Christians, under his Prime Ministership. Interestingly, while he praised Jesus Christ and waxed eloquent about the services of the Christian community, he did not share  remorse or empathy for the situation of the Christians in the country today.

 “Those invited to the Christmas reception were a select group of Christians. While the invitation was from the Prime Minister, here was an opportunity for them to courteously decline the invite in the light of what has been happening to the Christians in Manipur and elsewhere. 

Hence their acceptance of this invite was not in our name!

“The Christian representatives who spoke, thanked the Prime Minister profusely for many things! The hard truth is that the Prime Minister and his Government have consistently disregarded their constitutional mandate, be it to the minorities, the Adivasis, the Dalits, the backward castes, the farmers, labourers, migrants, etc. 

Hence their gratitude to the Prime Minister was not in our name!

 “When these Christian representatives spoke at the reception, they were giving a tacit approval to the omission and commission of this government. 

Hence their words were not in our name!

“India today fares extremely badly on every global index be it in the economic, educational, health or social sphere. By their lack of prophetic courage to highlight the grim realities in the country today, these Christian representatives publicly betrayed the Gospel of Jesus and His values of truth, justice, joy, love, dignity and peace. Through their culpable silence, they failed to uphold the values enshrined in the Constitution of India. 

Hence their silence was not in our name!

“Today we the Christians of India together with conscious and committed citizens pledge to protect and promote the Constitution, Country and Citizens of India and to work with and work for all those who are victims of an unjust, insincere and authoritarian regime.”

Among others, the following prominent members of the Christian community are signatories including Derek O’brien, Member of Rajya Sabha, M.G.Devashayam IAS (retired) and John Shilsi IPS (retired). Others include Dr Astrid Lobo-Gajiwala, Ms Flavia Agnes , Ms. Pamela Philipose, Ms. Minakshi Singh, Sr Patsy Khan , Fr. M.J. George  SJ ( Rome), Fr. Xavier Jeyaraj SJ (Rome), Rajan Solomon, Fr. Anand IMS, Sr. Mudita Sodder RSCJ, Fr. Paulson Veliyannoor, CMF, Sr Molly Fernandes , Capt. Joseph C. D’Souza , Marine Consultant

The complete list of signatories may be read here:

Related:

United Christian Forum: Average two Christians attacked in India every day, 287 incidents reported from UP itself

Tripura: Indian Christians voice protest on rally on Christmas Day

Over 500 cases of attacks against Christians in 8 months of 2023

Irony of 2023: High persecution of Christians, PM hailed by some religious leaders

The post Not In Our Name, says Christians to some leaders who celebrated Christmas with PM Modi appeared first on SabrangIndia.

“The Christian Community, while thanking the Prime Minister who endeared himself to Christians with his goodwill and hosting of Christmas celebrations at his residence, makes a strong appeal to him to address the pending issues and respond positively to the concerns of the community,” he said. “If done, the Christians will remain ever grateful to him.” In a much-criticised interaction of some religious leaders at the PM’s residence in Delhi on Christmas, Modi while heaping praise on the community had said that the values of compassion, inclusivity and justice for all propagated by Jesus Christ also served as a “guiding light” in his government’s development journey.

“To take positively forward Modiji’s Christmas message of peace and goodwill, it would be an excellent move on his part to address the concerns of the Christian community by taking into confidence the cardinals, bishops, priests, and the religious and lay leaders of the community,” he said in a release. Machado said that instances of hate speech against Christians, attacks on churches and Christian institutions and the promulgation of anti-conversion laws in more and more states has led to deprivation and usurpation of the constitutional rights of Christians, which can be best handled by the Prime Minister’s Office with timely interventions.

“We all look up to the Prime Minister to give a soothing touch to the burning problem of Manipur, which may be an ethnic issue, but has left deep scars on the people of the Christian community,” he said.

“Further the Prime Minister can surely take Christian leaders into confidence in resolving the Dalit Christian reservations issue in a statesmanship type of leadership by granting equal status to all Dalits, be they Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs or Christians,” he added.

Also noting that as Modiji mentioned in his Christmas message, the Christian community is working through its dedicated and selfless service towards creating a society where there is justice for all and for an inclusive society, the Archbishop said. “These values, as he mentioned, serve as a guiding light in our journey of national development, provided all communities are respected, protected and taken into confidence.”

Only yesterday, December 28, a group of citizens had, in a public statement expressed scepticism at the high praise heaped on Modi by a few Christian religious leaders on Christmas pointing out the documented attacks on the community by hardliners this year.

Related:

Irony of 2023: High persecution of Christians, PM hailed by some religious leaders

United Christian Forum: Average two Christians attacked in India every day, 287 incidents reported from UP itself

Tripura: Indian Christians voice protest on rally on Christmas Day

Over 500 cases of attacks against Christians in 8 months of 2023

The post Bengaluru Archbishop seeks PM’s intervention on Manipur, attacks on churches appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The education officer of Madhya Pradesh’s Shajapur district has, in a written order dated December 14, as reported by The Indian Express, said that both government and private schools will face action if students take part in Christmas-related events without the permission of their parents. This, interestingly, includes children dressing up as Santa Claus or Christmas trees for plays or other events.

The written order by district education officer Vivek Dubey, issued on December 14, reads, “Students should not be made part of Christmas-related events, including making them dress up or play roles like Santa Claus and Christmas tree, without the written consent of parents, to prevent any untoward situation or incident.”

“Unilateral disciplinary action will be proposed against your organisation if there are complaints in this regard,” it added. In a justification of what may be seen as an arbitrary action, Dubey is reported to have said there have been complaints in the past, and that the order does not ban Christmas events in schools.

“The circular does not ban any events in schools during the coming festive season. In the past, there have been instances of parents complaining about their wards being made part of such events in schools without their consent, and the circular is aimed at preventing such disputes. It’s better to prevent such controversies rather than acting after the incident has occurred,” he said.

Now, emboldened by this development that was widely reported in the media, far right group Sanskriti Bachao Manch in Bhopal also issued a warning to a school, asking its administration not to allow students to dress up as Santa Claus without the permission of parents. In a display of competitive aggression, the outfit’s president, Chandrasekhar Tiwar, also protested against the “long leaves” given to students during Christmas, alleging that on Diwali, only two days’ leave is granted while on Christmas, it is 10 days.

In 2022, the VHP had asked schools not to ask students to dress up as Santa Claus or bring Christmas trees without their parents’ permission, claiming that this was “an attack on Hindu culture” and “a conspiracy to influence Hindu children with Christianity”

Meanwhile, UCA News reported that Christians in the central Indian state are worried over a government order asking schools to seek parents’ nod before involving students in Christmas events.  “This is the first time that we are coming across such an order,” said Father Rocky Shah, public relations officer of Jhabua diocese in the state.

Most schools in Madhya Pradesh are run by Catholic and other Christian denominations and its leaders view the circular as a deliberate attempt to target and harass Christians and their institutions. Shah also reportedly told UCA News on Dec. 22, “We never got such an order during the celebrations of major Hindu festivals.”

The December 14 order makes it clear that “students cannot be allowed to dress up as Santa Claus or put up a Christmas tree” in their schools without written permission from parents.

Madhya Pradesh is currently ruled by the supremacist, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Hindutva party won a fresh mandate at the recent assembly elections, the results of which were declared on December 3. “It is quite alarming to see such a government order,” Shah noted.

A government official, however, defended the action stating that circular is a “precautionary measure” that was aimed at “curbing unwanted incidents.”

Jerry Paul, national president of the Sarva Isai Mahasabha (All Christian Federation), an ecumenical body, told UCA News that the government should rein in trouble-makers rather than threaten the school management with “unilateral action.” “Students dressing up as Santa Claus or putting up Christmas trees are not religious actions, but they are a message of happiness and peace,” he said. He also pointed out to the authorities that “the nativity of Jesus Christ is celebrated in churches and not in schools.” He further asserted that in a democratic country, everyone has the right to spread the message of love and happiness.

Church leaders were apprehensive that the pro-Hindutva party may come out with a similar circular in other districts of the state. Over the past years, Christian schools, hostels and orphanages in Madhya Pradesh have witnessed several surprise raids from child rights protection bodies in the past few years.

Several malicious complaints and cases have even been filed in Madhya Pradesh against Church officials, including a bishop, priests and nuns, under the draconian anti-conversion law. Madhya Pradesh has recorded 35 incidents of persecution against Christians till November 2023 this year.

Christians make up a mere 0.29 percent of 72 million people in the Hindu majority state.

Related:

Christmas of the 2% is being imposed on the 98%, says Suresh Chavhanke

Christmas 2022: Hindu supremacist groups chant “Death to Santa Claus!”

No gatherings allowed for Christmas and New Year in Delhi?

The post Madhya Pradesh: District after district polices Christmas celebrations, children can’t dress like Santa Claus without “parent permission” appeared first on SabrangIndia.

A Twitter account called ‘Hindutva Watch’ which reports on incidents of hate crimes and hate speeches by right wing groups reported that a new strategy is being adopted by the RW-groups. They have started muting live streams of their events whenever any objectionable comment is being made which could land them into trouble and invite legal action. Many such events are being held by far-right organizations and groups from time to time in various cities of the country. The speakers often make inflammatory and hateful remarks which get record on their own live stream or gets recorded from someone in the audience and gets circulated over social media. It is meant to perpetrate and further disseminate their vile comments amongst Hindus but these videos also catch the attention of rights groups and individuals fighting for rights of minorities and they raise their voice in protest, with many filing complaints against them as well.

Presumably, it is to avoid any such action, that these groups have started this new approach of muting their videos in places were controversial and communalist comments are made to avoid penal action.

An example of one such incident was posted by Hindutva Watch where Sudarshan News Editor-in-Chief was speaking at Hindu Janajagruti Samiti event held in Jalgaon, Maharashtra on December 25. However, despite the muting, the rest of the speech is as abhorrent and inflammatory and every sentence spoken by Chavhanke is an offence under the Indian Penal Code. He has not only made comments against the festival of Christmas being secularly celebrated in the country but has also made objectionable remarks about Muslim women. He makes baseless allegations against madrassas and made false and baseless claims about forced religious conversions in Jalgaon.

The entire transcript of the 9-minute-long video posted on twitter, wherein Chavhanke makes a speech in Hindi, can be read here:

“Today’s program is not just being seen by Hindu lions and lionesses in the audience but is also being viewed by some pigs”.

“I can see some of them standing atop buildings, some welding caps (then goes on mute).. From Jalgaon to Khandwa if you take a train, you can see land has been captured, ‘Land jihad’ has occurred. It feels like the train is passing through Pakistan. If this continues then in the near future, this railway line that connect south India to north India will get captured and it will be similar to how PFI tried to separate the ‘chicken neck’ region from India”

“In Solapur, some Hindu boys marched to the Collector’s office in wedding attire protesting that they are not finding girls to marry. I want to say to those young boys that if you want to hold protest, March to that Mosque (video mutes).. go to the Madrassas where it is taught how to cheat our women”

“It is taught in these mosques how to tie kalava, how to keep fake identity, they are given motorcycles. This is an organized crime. They are big dacoits and terrorists and so that there is a law against it, I am coming to Maharashtra”

“Today is a Christian festival. There are 2% Christians in India, at least the ones who tell their real names, leave aside the fake ones. The festival of these 2% is being imposed on the 98% people. The Hindus are so gullible that they are putting up Christmas trees in hotels, malls, airports. Is there any relation of Christmas trees and India? (Crowd echoes a ‘No’) But we were made into fools. From December 25 to January 5, we will not see anything else. Our children will grow up looking at Christmas tree and they will think is ours and that is why Sudarshan (his news channel) since the past 10-12 years has started worshipping the tulsi plant instead of worshipping Christmas tree”

“Christianity has ruined our intellect. In your area as well, Christians are carrying out religious conversions. You must be thinking that only Dalits must be getting converted but even Adivasis are getting converted in large numbers. Especially members of the Banjara community are being made to convert in large numbers and in opposition to this, Jalgaon district held a International Banjara Kumbh and we should all support it. The Christians and Muslims conspired against us. In the name of Islam, they took Pakistan, yet even after independence, many of our Education Ministers were Muslims. Our first Education was not even Indian, he was a Saudi national. He was educated in a Madrassa and was making our education policy.  Along with Christians, they did not let the stories our Hindu Bravehearts come to the forefront. In CBSE syllabus there are only four lines dedicated to Shivaji Maharaj. Aurangzeb, Babur, Khilji find mention. Today, this is getting transformed. If you fall into her mentality then your next generation will be Muslims.”

“Back then who got scared, today they are Muslims. Today who lives in fear will tomorrow become Muslim.

“I want to say to the Buddhists of Indian to learn something from Buddhists of Myanmar. They kicked our and chased away the Rohingyas from their country. They said your Jihad will not work in our country. I am the world’s first journalist or first individual against whom a case against hate speech is on-going at the Supreme court. People who know the law, know that after a crime is committed, it first goes to trial court, then sessions court, then high court and then Supreme court. Last year on December 19, in Delhi I took the oath of Hindu Rashtra, against that many jihadis raise their voice. I only took the same oath which was taken by Shivaji Maharaj on 26 April 1645 at Raireshwar. You tell me, Mavlas of Maharashtra, is it a crime to take Shivaji Maharaj’s Hindu rashtra oath? And if it is a crime, then will you still take that oath? (The audience yells ‘yes’)”

“My lawyer said to me that If you speak on the dais, this will upset the judge. I am not making this speech to please any judge I am challenging the traitors in this country.”

“Earlier the slogan was “We will fight and take Pakistan” now the slogan is “we will smile and take Hindustan”. Someone asked me what does “take with a smile” mean? I said having 4 wives and 44 children is matter of laughing. By this, India is being captured, will we let that happen? (Audience yells ‘no’).

“Raise your hands in fists and say, “will you let Hindustan get captured?” (Audience yells ‘no’)

“Because of these dogs like Owaisi (mutes)…I take back my words. I can’t call him a dog because dogs are faithful. (muted)

“Those who said we will not come to Hindustan; Sardar Patel made them rub their noses to the ground.”

“This situation could out of control hence I am warning those converted to Christianity, those who have become secular I am urging them also to become real Hindus.”

“I am telling Muslim girls that if they marry Hindu boys, they will get 10 (muted). Even if any Hindu forget to watch Sudarshan (news) someday, Muslims never fail to watch Sudarshan. Sudarshan channel is watched by either lions or pigs”.

The video may be viewed here:

Far-right Hindu groups have adopted a new strategy to avoid their hate speeches from coming under the scanner.

They mute live stream of segments where speakers deliver anti-Muslim remarks.

Suresh Chavhanke delivered one such speech at Hindu Janajagruti Samiti event on Dec 25. pic.twitter.com/AhYb5DhMcz

— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) December 29, 2022

Related:

TN: Dalit youth dies by suicide after ‘upper caste’ men violently attacked him

VHP Leaders allegedly threatens to burn down Muslims in presence of Police!

K’taka: Muslim boy and man thrashed with rods by mob

The post Christmas of the 2% is being imposed on the 98%, says Suresh Chavhanke appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The days leading up to Christmas in India saw celebrations marked by sombre instances of violent attacks and hate crimes. A stark video video of a Hindu supremacist organisation burning an effigy of Santa Claus effigy to chants of “Santa Claus Murdabad” (Death to the Santa Claus) did the rounds on Christmas eve.

In the video, (link provided below), a group of 20-30 men and women, most of whom are wearing a bright orange stole, are seen carrying an effigy of a Santa Claus. Some of the people are seen carrying orange flags with the ‘Om symbol’ printed on it while some others have a stick in their hands. The man holding the Santa Claus effigy, who was leading the sloganeering, slaps the Santa Claus a few times. Throughout the video, the crowd can be seen chanting “Santa Claus Murdabad”. At first, the crowd is sloganeering at the corner of a road, but as the spectacle proceeds, they shift to the centre of the road. Interestingly, all this is happening on a busy road, and vehicles can be seen moving on the road.

After a while of sloganeering, the crowd then pours oil on the effigy and proceeds to burn it in the middle of the road, all the while chanting “Santa Claus Murdabad”. One of the men from the crowd can be seen instigating the person who then burns the effigy Santa Claus, all the while using abusive language.

The video can be viewed here:

“Death to Santa Claus” – Hindu Supremacists celebrating Christmas in India! pic.twitter.com/IjT5rpAvx1

— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) December 23, 2022

In another video from the same incident, the same crowd can be heard saying “Jesus Christ Murdabad” (Death to Jesus Christ)

The video can be viewed here:

This is India under the Modi govt. the day before #Christmas his party sympathizers are shouting slogans “Jesus Christ Murdabad”.
It’s high time @narendramodi cleared his stand on other religions else this may create a big problem for Indians outside India. @Pontifex @JoeBiden pic.twitter.com/M8Qt3b1qZi

— Hitendra Pithadiya #BharatJodoYatra ?? (@HitenPithadiya) December 24, 2022

Though both incidents –clearly crimes under Indian law –instigating violent acts against a minority — the police are nowhere be seen. These outfits were then able to showcase a blatant display of intolerance towards a community. The crowd can be seen burning effigies and calling for the death of Jesus Christ with no sense of fear of being proceeded against.

In yet another reported incident, which took place on December 22, 2022, in a residential neighborhood in Vadodara, Gujarat, a Hindu mob violently beat up a man who was in a costume of Santa Claus. According to the media reports, the police verified that a commotion was made following the occurrence, but no official complaint was made in this respect.[1]

It was further reported that when this incident took place, the man who had dressed up as Santa Claus was handing out chocolates in the neighborhood of Makarpura. He had traveled here to meet some of his community’s residents who lived there. The Times of India reported that, according to the version given out by the police inspector of the Makarpura police station, Rashmin Solanki, some of the locals objected to the man giving out chocolates, and a “conflict” erupted between the two communities as a result of this. The police also informed the newspaper that no complaint has been filed by any of the involved parties with regard to the incident.

Solanki added that after the incident, members of the local Christian community went to the police to ask for security for a procession they wanted to organise nearby. Solanki further said that the police have promised the Christian community all the help they needed.

Attacks on Christians in Chhatisgarh

Chhattisgarh, state ruled by the Congress party has seen a spate of recent attacks on Christians recently. Over the past ten days or even longer, there have been scattered news reports about attacks on the tribal Christians in the Bastar region of Chattisgarh. According to media reports, the Christian community has been so singled out for attack that even Christmas prayers have been disrupted and the statue of Jessus Christ, vandalized[2], by certain exclusivist Hindu outfits. This has compelled Christians to flee from the Narayanpur district in Chhattisgarh.[3]

The Chhattisgarh Christian Forum (CCF) has reported that more than 100 individuals, including women, have now sought refuge in a stadium in Narayanpur, while many more have found shelter in various locations nearby, including churches. The CCF even presented a memo to state governor Anusuiya Uikey on December 21, calling for a halt to the community’s ongoing crimes. At the district collector’s office in Narayanpur, tribal Christians have been demonstrating for days in protest of alleged atrocities they have endured. Protesters from 14 villages in the tribally dominant district claim that they were attacked and driven from their homes as a result of becoming Christians.[4]

These are only a few of the recent incidents of atrocities being committed against the Christian community that have been reported by the media in the recent days. Over the past few years, attacks on Christians and their rituals and celebrations have increased, all seemingly justified on the guise of conversions.

What is worse is that Delhi, the national capital, has prevented protests against such  atrocities. According to The Wire a protest that was planned in Delhi to condemn the acts taking place in Chhattisgarh and the inaction of the state government to protect their own citizens,[5] was called off after the Delhi police (under the central Ministry for Home Affairs –MHA) imposed section 144 and prevented peaceful assembly of persons and protests.

The post Christmas 2022: Hindu supremacist groups chant “Death to Santa Claus!” appeared first on SabrangIndia.

As the world readies for Christmas and looks forward to the New Year, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has put a damper on all public celebrations. The DDMA, on Wednesday issued an order “banning all cultural events and gatherings for Christmas and New Year celebrations in the national capital”. The DDMA has cited “rising cases of Omicron variant” of Covid-19 as the reason, and instructed the District Magistrates (DM) to and Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) to “ensure that no cultural event/gatherings/congregation/take place for celebrating Christmas or New Year in NCT of Delhi.” 

According to DDMA’s order dated December 15, “All social, political, sports, entertainment, cultural and religious events are prohibited and no gatherings can be held.” The authority, in its latest order, stated that there had been rampant violation of Covid norms on several occasions and the necessary restrictions are not being followed. It was instructed that “all District Magistrates as well as all District DCPs shall conduct surprise checks/ raids in their respective areas and shall take strict penal action against defaulters…”

Why wait till Christmas?

However, the timing to wait till Christmas must be noted. Just a month ago, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on November 04, 2021, performed the Lakshmi Puja on Diwali at the Thyagraj Stadium along with his Cabinet colleagues. The event was telecast live and it can be seen that the CM has himself not worn a mask, nor is there ample physical distancing on the stage where the Diwali puja was held. The Delhi government had performed a similar puja last year as well for the biggest Hindu festival celebrated in India and abroad. Delhi of course has a mixed population of all religions, however the government has now chosen to organise its second Diwali puja using public funds, but put a ban on Christmas gathering when it could have issued Covid-19 appropriate instructions on the number of people allowed at Church worship at a time. Most churches have self regulated and held Mass/ or the main congregational prayer online or televised it on private broadcast television and social media channels. It will be for the second year that Christmas mass may not be held inside a church. 

The “auspicious” wedding season in north India is also ebbing after weeks of celebrations, and the DDMA has allowed restaurants, bars, and auditoriums to function at 50 percent capacity, and put a ceiling of 200 people in wedding gatherings.

According to reports, Delhi’s Omicron tally is around 57 cases at the moment, followed by Maharashtra (54), Telangana (24) and Karnataka (19). The Omicron variant of Covid-19, believed to be one of the most infectious strains of the virus, has now spread to over 70 countries across the world including South Africa, India, UK and other densely populated countries. And though this variant has not proved to be as deadly as its predecessors like the Delta variant, experts are urging people to exercise caution with many countries now asking citizens to get a third booster shot.

The DDMA has directed officials to strengthen the enforcement machinery and deploy “sufficient number of enforcement teams on field for keeping utmost vigil at public places…” Officials have been told to conduct surveys and identify areas that have the potential of becoming hotspots of Covid-19 and the Omicron variant. It also told the Residents Welfare Associations (RWAs) of various areas to enforce Covid-19 prevention methods.

“Since, wearing of mask is the most important weapon in fight against Covid-19, RWAs and MTAs should be advised not to allow their residents, shopkeepers and customers without mask in their respective areas/public places,” ordered the DDMA.

?Delhi Health Bulletin – 22nd December 2021? #delhiFightsCorona pic.twitter.com/FpBSpre2Y1

— CMO Delhi (@CMODelhi) December 22, 2021

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who is also the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener is hoping to be elected to power in Goa Assembly. He recently promised Goans free pilgrimages to religious sites, “If AAP comes to power, we will arrange for free darshan of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. Christian brothers and sisters will be taken to Velankanni and Muslims to Ajmer Sharif. Many people also have faith in Sai Baba, and will arrange trips to Shirdi for them.” 

Related:

Covid-19: Omicron poses new challenges, spreads to 77 countries
Challenges of ‘hyper-nationalism’ highlighted in Vatican’s Diwali message
AAP’s Diwali Pujan – the power to presume

The post No gatherings allowed for Christmas and New Year in Delhi? appeared first on SabrangIndia.

It began in 2014-15 with the government trying to impose December 25 as “Good Governance Day” and cancel the public holiday for Christmas. The uproar and criticism pushed back this attempt that was begun ostensibly to mark the birth date of former Prime Minister of India and RSS member, Atal Behari Vajpayee (December 25, 1924).

Incidentally, Mohammad Ali Jinnah also shares this birth date (December 25, 1876). The founder of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), K. B. Hedgewar was born on April 1, 1889. The date is also celebrated world over as All Fool’s Day. So far, however no attempts have been made to transform that date.

This year, 2020, there have been renewed attempts at this super-imposition with extra emphasis given on December 25 as ‘Tulsi & Geeta day’.There is absolutely no problem if people celebrate their varied beliefs. But when activists sworn to the supremacist Hindutva ideology that see India as a militarised and theocratic nation, start going to Mosques and Churches and gifting copies of the Bhagvat Geeta and Tulsi plants, there certainly is a problem. Minorities in India, who are already under threat of violence and constant intimidation under the present regime do not have the free choice to refuse such ‘gifts’, which are not given in friendship but as a systemic policy of imposing Hindutva over Christianity. Also, imagine if the Tulsi plant does not survive in the church or in the mosques, the minorities will be blamed for not respecting Tulsi.The plant is not seen as a medicinal plant, but as a Devi (Goddess Tulsi), so not caring for the ‘Goddess’ might invite an attack on minorities. Holy Tulsi is all set to become the next Holy Cow.

This trend to try and super-impose ‘Good Governance’ or ‘Tulsi Diwas’ on Christmas –even the concept of celebrating Parents’ Worship Day, known as Matru Pitru Poojan Diwas (मातृ–पितृ पूजन दिवस) on Valentine’s day was led by none less than Asaram Bapu who is today in jail on allegations of rape against a minor disciple.

Check out this year’s tweets and Facebook posts on Tulsi Pujan Divas and Bhagvad Geeta Jayanti. There are many anti-Christian hate comments also posted using the same hashtags.

These are very easy to search look for the following hashtags:
#TulsiPujanDiwas
#GitaJayanti2020
#GitaJayanti  
#तुलसी_पूजन_दिवस
#भगवत_गीता
#भगवत_गीता_जयंती
#CelebrateVedicFestivals 

And here are some links showcasing the Saffron agenda on Facebook:

जिले केमंदिर , मस्जिद , चर्च एवं उच्च अधिकारियों को तुलसी पौधे एवं श्रीमद्भागवत गीता भेंट कर मनाया गया तुलसी पूजन दिवस एवं गीता जयंती पर्व – छिन्दवाड़ा

#TulsiPujanDiwas #GitaJayanti #25december #TulsiPujan #SantShriAsharamjiBapu 

History of Tulsi Pujan Divas

In 2014,Asaram Bapu asked his followers to celebrate Tulsi Pujan on 25th December. https://zeenews.india.com/hindi/india/tulsi-pujan-day-2020-tulsi-day-trending-on-christmas/814610

The Headline of English article on Zee news says “Tulsi Pujan Diwas 2020: Why it is celebrated on December 25?” But it doesn’t give any reason for selecting the specific date of 25 December. 
https://zeenews.india.com/culture/tulsi-pujan-diwas-2020-why-it-is-celebrated-on-december-25-2332816.html

The official appeal of Asaram Bapu’s Ashram is available on Youtube, which clearly says that on December 25, the people celebrate western festival, dance and party. We should instead celebrate Tulsi Divas. 

These were clearly all concerted attempts to undermine the Christian festival. Thousands of posters condemning Christmas and promoting Tulsi can be seen on social media, these are posted by the BJP IT cell members.Now BJP appears to be officially promoting it and involving officials from the government administration. 

The union minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Renuka Singh, has praised the work by the Asaram’s organisation (Lok Kalyan Setu) and issued a letter on her letterhead, praising the effort of celebrating Matru-Pitru-Pujan-Divas on Valentine’s Day:

Facebook post by Kapil Mishra (BJP member and the accused of Delhi Communal Violence) explaining the importance of Tulsi Pujan Divas on December 25: 

BJP’s Lok Sabha Member Ram Kripal Yadav has posted with BJP’s logo on his verified FB account

तुलसी पूजन से बुद्धि बल, मनोबल, चारित्र्य बल व आरोग्य बल बढ़ता है।तुलसी पूजन दिवस के पावन अवसर पर आपसबों को हार्दिक बधाई एवं शुभकामनाएं।

#TulsiPujanDiwas

Industrialist Vadant Birla became a hero on social media after he posted a celebration of Tulsi Pujan and Bhagvat Geeta Day.

“I am the source of all sources. There is absolute nothing in which i don’t exist. I am the ultimate truth.’’
~Shri #Krishna 
#GitaJayanti2020 #TulsiPujanDiwas  
 

This year’s Gita Mahotsav event coincided with Christmas, so the social media included Gita Jayanti along with Tulsi Pujan Day. It is interesting to note that the Gita Jayanti was not celebrated with so much passion as it is flooded on the social media, just because there it was Christmas. There are efforts by religiously and politically bigoted leaders and governments to erase the cultural history of Minorities. Declaring Christmas as “Good Governance Day” is the BJP government’s attempt to spoil Christmas festivities. 

Archbishop Anil Joseph Thomas Couto, Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Delhi has talked about how the government is undermining the importance of Christmas by making it a working day as Good Governance day, in this TV debate.

Syncretic Traditions, beyond religious boundaries

The festivities around Durga Puja, Navratri, Ganapati Festival, Christmas, Eid and Navrozetc. are beyond religious boundaries, these are cultural heritage that unites people and for the unity in diversity we must respect and preserve these invaluable bonding that are the identity of our Indian subcontinent.

What did Swami Vivekananda say about Christmas? How Ramakrishna Mission celebrates Christmas

Once, after meditating for a long time, Swami Vivekananda opened his eyes and spoke about the extraordinary life of sacrifice of Jesus Christ and exhorted his brother monks to take up the vows of renunciation and service keeping fire as witness. The next morning, they realised that the previous evening was the sacred Christmas Eve. Read more here: 

https://www.thestatesman.com/cities/how-ramakrishna-mission-celebrates-christmas-1502719004.html
 

Which is why one violent wing of the supremacists, Bajrang Dal, in Assam attacked the Ramkrishna Mission for celebrating Christmas. Ramakrishna Mission has a long tradition of celebrating Christmas and worshipping Jesus Christ. Portraits of Jesus Christ and Mother Mary are placed next to the idol of Sri Ramakrishna and Mother Sarada and cakes are decorated the same way every year to mark the birth of Jesus.No religious/ non-religious organisation has ever questioned this belief but this year seems to serve as an exception. In a first, the doors of every church in the city of Silchar, Assam were closed on Christmas eve with Police and CRPF deployed inside in anticipation of violence by Bajrang Dal, as reported by the media.

According to reports, the Shillong Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Cultural Centre was also locked down by Khasi Student Union Members in Meghalaya. Once this news spread, the Bajrang Dal intimidated a Hindu family saying that if their children went to the church for Christmas celebrations, stern action would be taken. The Bajrang Dal had started threatening Hindu’s from visiting the church to celebrate Christmas in early December itself. In addition to this nuisance, this right-wing outfit went a step ahead and protested Christian prayers in Hailakandi Ramakrishna Mission in Assam.

Meanwhile, the world is realising the importance of shared cultural history and preserving these in the interests of peace and harmony on the planet. In 2010, the “International Day of Nowruz” was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution A/RES/64/253. This Resolution welcomes the efforts of Member States where Nowruz is celebrated to preserve and develop the culture and traditions related to Nowruz, and encourages Member States to make efforts to raise awareness about Nowruz and to organise annual events in commemoration of this festivity. 

Why must the festivities and culture be respected and preserved? 
It is well explained by the Director General of UNESCO while talking about Navroz, this value and logic applies to every culture and tradition (that does not violate rights).  
“The festival of Nowruz unites the individuals and peoples of the 12 countries that together nominated the festival for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity to celebrate values of sharing and harmony.”Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of the International Day of Nowruz 

Following Saudi Arabia’s path

A similar supremacist ideology of ‘erasing’ minority festivals and history has destroyed the cultural heritage of Arab world. Saudi Arabia did exactly the same thing with Muharram, by inventing and imposing new festivals on Muharram & Ashura to undermine the Shiite tradition commemoration, they have also banned their traditional Navroz celebrations because it has Zoroastrian origins.

Other examples of erasing cultural history in the Arab World 
Achaemenid Empire in the time of Darius and Xerxes

At its height, the Achaemenid Empire ruled over 44 percent of the world’s population, the highest figure for any empire in history. Therefore, traces of Achaemenid culture are still visible in Asia, Central Asia, Middle East, Africa and in Europe.

Navroz is one such festival that still exists and UNESCO has recognised this as an important festival that unites several nationalities.After the fall of Ottoman Empire and the creation of Saudi Arabia, the first thing the religious fanatics did was to ban and stop all festivals that did not suit their political agenda. And the Navroz celebration stopped by looking down upon as “those who celebrate Navroz are children of Magi” (I see this as the hateful rhetoric against the Muslims in India “the children of Babur”)The term ‘Magi’ implies Zoroastrianism — natively known as Mazdayasna, which is one of the world’s ancient religions prevailing in Iran and other Persian lands in the pre-Islamic era.  

Similarly the Saudi Arabian Government started many festivals that were never heard of earlier, exactly on the day of Ashura (10th day of Muharram month in Islamic calendar) Ashura has been a day of commemoration of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain and his companions in Karbala. This day was observed as an important day by most of the Muslims and specially by the Shiite minorities in Saudi Arabia. 

One can find very active propaganda by the Saudi media on social media against the Mourning and remembrance of Karbala during Muharram. Read more here:
https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/518237

The idea behind such campaigns is to undermine the existence of Minorities and their culture. Now the present Day Saudi Arabia which has the most diverse and rich cultural history, has become a country of one Kingdom, one religion and of one specific sect. 
Such erasing of culture is a loss to human civilization and its cultural history. 

New festivals started by the BJP 

In 2016, the Haryana Government started the first-ever International Gita Mahotsav, celebrating Bhagvad Gita. Gita Mahotsav is an event centred around the Bhagvad Gita, celebrated on the Shukla Ekadashi, the 11th day of the waxing moon of the Margashirsha (Agrahayan) month of the Hindu calendar. It is believed the Bhagvad Gita was revealed to Arjuna by Krishna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra (in present-day Haryana). Read more here:
https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/first-ever-international-gita-mahotsav-in-haryana-116112600590_1.html 

Why this kind of appropriation not be done to a Muslim festival? 

Muslim festivals follow Lunar calendar and every year the date changes, therefore, fixing a festival on Eid, Baqridor Muharram is not possible. Christmas and Valentine’s Day fall on a particular date, therefore it is easy to target them by imposing another festival or birthday on someone.

The post Imposing Tulsi Pujan Day on Christmas, an attack on India’s diversity? appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Ramakrishna Mission has a long tradition of celebrating Christmas and worshipping Jesus Christ. Portraits of Jesus Christ and Mother Mary are placed next to the idol of Sri Ramakrishna and Mother Sarada and cakes are decorated the same way every year to mark the birth of Jesus.

No religious/ non-religious organisation has ever questioned this belief but this year seems to serve as an exception. In a first, the doors of every church in the city of Silchar, Assam were closed on Christmas eve with Police and CRPF deployed inside in anticipation of violence by Bajrang Dal, as reported by the media.

As per the media, the Shillong Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Cultural Centre was also locked down by Khasi Student Union Members in Meghalaya. Once this news spread, the Bajrang Dal intimidated a Hindu family saying that if their children went to the church for Christmas celebrations, stern action would be taken. The Bajrang Dal had started threatening Hindu’s from visiting the church to celebrate Christmas in early December itself. In addition to this nuisance, this right-wing outfit went a step ahead and protested in Hailakandi Ramakrishna Mission in Assam against the worship of Jesus.

On December 25, Bajrang Dal members arrived at the Ramakrishna Halaikandi Seva Samiti office to ask, “why Jesus Christ was worshipped in Ramakrishna Mission?”. The reason behind this question was the alleged torture of Hindus by Christians in Shillong where Hindus are not allowed to practice their religion freely.

Vikramjit Bhattarjee, a member of the Hailakandi branch of Bajrand Dal said, “we oppose Jesus worship at Hailakandi Ramakrishna Mission because we are protesting against what happened at Shillong. They have listened to us and promised to think about it in the future. We just want to send a strong message that if anyone hurts our religious beliefs then we won’t tolerate it”, reported Barak Bulletin.

In response, Premangshu Paul from the Ramakrishna Seva Samiti said that they worship Jesus every year as part of the rules of Belur Math, the headquarters of Ramakrishna Math and Mission. He also remarked that if celebrating Buddha Purnima is not wrong, Christmas celebrations cannot be deemed wrong either.

According to some devotees, in December 1886, four months after Sri Ramakrishna passed away, Swami Vivekananda (Narendranath Dutta at the time) and some of his monastic mates had gathered at Antpur, in Serampore subdivision of Hooghly district.

According to the Telegraph, one night, Swamiji sat with his brothers the whole night before a fire and exhorted them to take sannyas (life of renunciation). In the morning, they came to know it was Christmas Eve (December 24). Eventually, they took sannyas, and the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission was formed. “In remembrance of that great beginning, Christmas Eve is observed as a sacred day by the monks and devotees of the order”, said a senior monk.

Even when Sri Ramakrishna was alive, he practised all religions before arriving at the realisation ‘Jato mot, tato poth (As many faiths, as many ways) according to Swami Suvirananda, the general secretary of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission who revealed this while speaking to The Telegraph.

Bajrang Dal, in the past has been involved in anti-Christian violence such as the Kandhamal riots and the murder of Graham Staines and his two minor sons in Odisha.

Related:

Assam Bajrang Dal leader threatens Hindus going to Church on Christmas
Tribal Christian families attacked in Chhattisgarh!

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