TEMPLE REPLICAS AT VISAKHA UTSAV
As in January 2017 and now in Dec 2017 temple replicas have been put up on the beach for Visakha Utsav which is essentially a tourist promotion event.
1.Faith is personal and the state government encouraging such mass promotion of temples in the name of tourism does not reflect a modern society.
2. The government is making a commercial "franchise" out of these temples. Like a branded store opening branches in different areas. Places of religious worship have a sanctity of its own by virtue of being there for centuries. The idea that we build Plaster of Paris models of those temples and prey upon the visitor's faith somehow appears dishonest.
3. The Constitution of India recognises all religions equally. We are a secular and pluralistic country. If we build temples why not mosques, churches and Gurudwaras? Are we making temples because we are a majority Hindu area? There is something morally wrong in this thinking.
4. If we want religious tourists they should be directed to real ancient temples in Vizag and not to our beaches to pray to these POP Gods.
5. The tons of POP, paints, chemicals, plastics, foils and hardware used for constructing these replicas will have a huge environmental impact on our sea if they are not removed with immense care after the event.
6. Most importantly it is not ethical tourism. This is not the message we want to give to fellow Indians and the world. It shows Vizag not as a cosmopolitan vibrant society, a modern city with Smart City aspirations but more as a parochial city with a small town mentality
7. We should drop this replica temple building in future. In its place we could have replicas of great monuments of India. This would not only present a wonderful photo opportunity but also a way to expand the minds of our population.
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| Cardboard temples |
1.Faith is personal and the state government encouraging such mass promotion of temples in the name of tourism does not reflect a modern society.
2. The government is making a commercial "franchise" out of these temples. Like a branded store opening branches in different areas. Places of religious worship have a sanctity of its own by virtue of being there for centuries. The idea that we build Plaster of Paris models of those temples and prey upon the visitor's faith somehow appears dishonest.
3. The Constitution of India recognises all religions equally. We are a secular and pluralistic country. If we build temples why not mosques, churches and Gurudwaras? Are we making temples because we are a majority Hindu area? There is something morally wrong in this thinking.
4. If we want religious tourists they should be directed to real ancient temples in Vizag and not to our beaches to pray to these POP Gods.
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| POP set up temple arrangements |
5. The tons of POP, paints, chemicals, plastics, foils and hardware used for constructing these replicas will have a huge environmental impact on our sea if they are not removed with immense care after the event.
6. Most importantly it is not ethical tourism. This is not the message we want to give to fellow Indians and the world. It shows Vizag not as a cosmopolitan vibrant society, a modern city with Smart City aspirations but more as a parochial city with a small town mentality
7. We should drop this replica temple building in future. In its place we could have replicas of great monuments of India. This would not only present a wonderful photo opportunity but also a way to expand the minds of our population.
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