Nevada (US), Nov 2 (ANI): Hindus are upset at unnecessarily dragging of a Hindu ceremony of bhumi-pujan (earth-worship) into an electoral battle for governor's race in Kentucky (USA).
Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that it was upsetting to hear that reportedly ancient sacred Hindu ceremony termed as an act of idolatry and referred as "polytheistic situations", revered Hindu deities were called "false gods", and talking about Hindus it was said "...I hope their eyes are opened and they receive Jesus Christ as their personal savior..."
Kentucky governorship candidate David Williams should apologize for the reported comments about the Hindu ceremony, faith and deities; because if elected on November eight, he would be the Governor of all Kentuckians, including Hindu Kentuckians, Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, argued.
Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be trivialized and taken lightly. Symbols of any faith, larger or smaller, should not be mishandled, Rajan Zed stressed.
Various religions were just different human responses to the one divine Ultimate Reality and their existence displayed God's generosity and bountifulness, Zed pointed out.
Rajan Zed further said that Kentucky politicians should be welcoming this $180 million 250-job manufacturing plant (for which the bhumi-pujan was held) during this recession instead of being critical of way the owners and their associates worshipped.
Governor Steve Beshear, also a candidate for Kentucky Governorship, and Elizabethtown Mayor Tim Walker reportedly participated sitting in the traditional shoeless and cross-legged way in the bhumi-pujan ceremony on Friday with community leaders and executives of Flex Films which is aiming to build a manufacturing plant in Elizabethtown (Kentucky). The traditional ceremony, which included burning incense and ceremonial fire and Sanskrit mantra chanting, was conducted on site of the new plant, whose first phase is claimed to be operational by the end of 2012. Sen. Dennis Parrett and Rep. Jimmie Lee of Elizabethtown; Hardin County Judge-Executive Harry L. Berry; former state Sen. Joe Prather; Pradeep Tyle and Audi Chaturavedi, CEO and Director respectively of Flex Films; were also present, according to reports.
A Kentucky Governor's office release says that this project "stems from Gov. Beshear's first economic development trip to India in the fall of 2010". "The blessing ceremony is a traditional service in India for new homes, businesses or other facilities. To show partnership in the new endeavor, both Flex Films executives and state and local officials participated in the ceremony", release adds. (ANI)
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