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Religion sees no boundaries?

by Mohit Singh
(Mumbai, India)

Thoughts beyond the far stretching horizon...

It was another tiring day at the office. I couldn’t wait to go for the short trip that I had planned with Rajiv. We were going to a pilgrimage place, as we both needed a break desperately. There were five more days for us to go for a three day trip. Rajiv had planned everything, he did all the bookings for bus, hotel, everything. He had even planned out the nearby places that are to be visited. I had only one plan for me, and that was to sleep as much as I can.

Finally, it was the day for our departure. It had only been a week ago that we had planned this trip, and it seemed like ages. We boarded our bus at seven in the morning, and we were due to reach our destination by noon. We reached an hour and a half late, thanks to the traffic, it didn’t leave us even on the highway.

It was dinner time, and by then I already had a good few hours of sleep and was planning for more . The next day morning we were standing in the queue to visit the temple. People were moving slowly, from small children to older men and women everyone was there trying to get in the temple.

It had been 45 minutes that we were in the queue moving slowly towards the temple. Suddenly, we were asked to move and give way to a celebrity. He was escorted right inside the temple without even waiting for a minute. Here are old people and children waiting in the queue to visit the temple, and here comes a celebrity who is escorted right inside the temple without any queue. WHY ? Is he not a human, or hundreds of people standing in the queue are not ?

We had just reached inside the temple and couldn’t even offer prayers properly and we heard priests shouting, “ Keep Moving”, “Keep Moving”. We couldn’t even stand for a minute and offer our prayers properly.

As we were coming out of the temple, I kept on thinking that, it took us two hours to complete our worship, in adulation and he came in and he came in and went away in a matter of minutes. As I walked ahead, I was rounded by beggars asking for money to eat. As I looked around me, I saw I was not the only one who was rounded by beggars, they were around everyone.

Why does this happen, there are celebrities who come and offer their prayers in the temple without waiting in the queue. He took a good 10-15 minutes inside the temple and no one objected. On the other hand, we were not even allowed to offer prayers properly. Why, this difference among humans ? Outside the temple there were beggars pleading for food, asking for money in the name of “GOD”, no one was bothered and they were happily escorting the celebrity.

I thought a lot about this, but couldn’t find any answers to these questions. They say some questions in life are left unanswered…but that doesn’t of course, mean, one should stop questioning what one feels about strongly. Sometimes, when these questions arise; that's when age old shams are turned on their head.

Comments for Religion sees no boundaries?

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Mar 03, 2012
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Absolutely true
by: Sneha

Yes, dear Mohit, that's what I feel as well. For something that is upheld with so much of explanations, there are no rules followed. Divinity is too powerful to be lost between this transition, but yes, it is indeed very painful. I've gone through similar experiences and I'm delighted that you took up to write about this grueling issue people take for granted and sometimes forget.

Mar 03, 2012
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Good
by: vimala ramu

An impassioned plea for justice and equality. I could sense your sense of disappointment Mohit. it is a good effort at writing. If you don't mind, it needs a bit of editing.

Mar 06, 2012
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Mohit
by: Geetashree Chatterjee

A very common experience in India - the largest democracy in the sub-continent ? Truly we are all equals but some of us are more than equal. Discriminations abound even on the doorstep of the deity.

Mar 07, 2012
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Thank you
by: Mohit

Thank you so much Sneha for your very valuable feedback. I'm glad you feel the same way, and something about it should be done soon.

Dear Vimala, Thank you for your words. I'm glad to hear from you.

Dear Geetashree, Thanks for the comment. You've raised some very important questions.

Nov 25, 2012
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Religion sees no boundaries?
by: PUSHPA Raghram

Some temples have developed software for on-line registration for booking the date and time of the visit, by the devotees. If it works, it would help old and young pilgrims alike.

Let us look forward for such time saving tools.

The article has clearly reflected your disappointment. Even I would have thought like you. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

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