07-10-2006, 12:12 PM
Lavanya,
The problem, of course, is little knowledge of Hinduism. See, Barkha Dutt may be a Hindu(?), but it just doesn't matter. Most urban Hindus today are really Hindus only in name.
They visit the temple once in a year, usually on New Years Day(!), and then forget about it. The closest they come to Hindu ritual is their own marriage. Between the fire of their marriage and the fire of their cremation, the rituals and Gods of traditional Hinduism barely register their presence in the minds of these philistines.
Any practicing Hindu woman <b>must have performed or seen performed Varalakshmi Pooja</b>. How come people like Barkha Dutt have never posed the question of <b>male participation</b> for this pooja? The reason these people don't pose the question is they don't practise the pooja anymore. They are completely unaware of it.
God help these creatures, and may God save the traditional values of Hinduism.
The problem, of course, is little knowledge of Hinduism. See, Barkha Dutt may be a Hindu(?), but it just doesn't matter. Most urban Hindus today are really Hindus only in name.
They visit the temple once in a year, usually on New Years Day(!), and then forget about it. The closest they come to Hindu ritual is their own marriage. Between the fire of their marriage and the fire of their cremation, the rituals and Gods of traditional Hinduism barely register their presence in the minds of these philistines.
Any practicing Hindu woman <b>must have performed or seen performed Varalakshmi Pooja</b>. How come people like Barkha Dutt have never posed the question of <b>male participation</b> for this pooja? The reason these people don't pose the question is they don't practise the pooja anymore. They are completely unaware of it.
God help these creatures, and may God save the traditional values of Hinduism.