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Parvati Cannot Sing for Shiva

Gargi writes about an incident where Parvati Khan was denied to sing for Lord Shiva, as her husband is a Muslim. Express Report:

“She created such a beautiful atmosphere here,” gushes priest Upendra Shikhre, unaware of Khan’s real identity. “Her voice drew hundreds of devotees here every day, many more than the temple normally sees on an average day. The last five days were so serene.” But now, priest Ulhas Aaradi is a bitter man. “If only we had known earlier…If people of Trimbakeshwar had known, they would have told her to get out.” Only Hindus, are allowed in the temple.

Gargi asks:

Panditji, who is a Hindu? or to be more accurate who isn’t a Hindu. or for that matter fact who is a Muslim or who isn’t a Muslim. If you truly believe in God surely then all paths lead to the same end.
And what religion is Shankar Mahadev. For he is the parama yogi and for him there can be no religion, and all are same. By violating the basic principal of Shavism - the priests have desecrated the temple. I hope that all of us who are devout and believe can take a stand and say that you don’t speak for us. For in the home of God all are welcome, for in the eyes of God all are the same.

A few centuries ago they wouldn’t have allowed a Vaishnavite into the temple. Now Parvati Khan is being denied entry. Indra Gandhi - while she was PM - was not allowed entry into some temples because she was a widow. And Dalits till date are not allowed into many temples.

Gargi laments:

Reading the article on Triambakeshwar has made me so very sad. This is not what we are about. And it is time that we spoke out against the hijacking of our eclectic traditions by medivialists. Let us not wait to become Saudi Arabia. Lets speak out now - if not for us, then for generations to come.

I grew up with a lot of muslim and christian friends in India. I used to go to both mosques and churchs along with temples and pray to god. My buddies also used to come with me to temples and pray there. Except for one christian friend, nobody ever asked me to try converting into other religions. India can be such a religion tolerant society some times. But, times seem to be changing, more and more intolerance is growing across the society. If we stop speaking out against such things we will end up leaving our feature generations in the control on fundamentalists and their ideologies.

Finally, a statement from Parvati Khan:

Khan says she was expecting the opposition. “I don’t feel bad because I know that God is with me in every move I make. I am moving as a messenger of peace and my devotion to Shiva is the same as that for Allah and Jesus.”