Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Updated
Mangaluru, Mar 1: The city's Nehru Maidan was on Sunday March 1 drenched in colours of saffron as a massive gathering of over 1.2 lac people converged to witness the mega Virat Hindu Samajotsava amid pouring rains that lasted for a few minutes.
The Samajotsava was organized to mark the golden jubilee celebrations of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).
Addressing the gathering, Sadhvi Balika Saraswati said, "I do not know your language but I can say, 'Ellarigu Namaskara'. I have heard much about Mangaluru. I was told that any programme held in Mangaluru would be a success, and I realized that with the blessings of 33 crore gods, this programme has indeed been a success.
"Such a big ground is small for the huge crowd that has gathered here today. No power in the world can ever wipe out Hindu dharma - it was always there and will remain so forever," she declared.
Lauding the VHP, she said, "From past 50 years VHP has done the work of uniting Hindus. If Hindus are existing today, it is because of the VHP. Some people ask what VHP has done - if today Hindu pride is alive, it is because of the VHP."
Calling for united fight against cow slaughter, she said, "Cow slaughter is going on in our Bharat Mata. But we ourselves are to be blamed. A piece of iron alone cannot cut wood without the help of a wooden stick. Traitors are allowing cow slaughter by selling cows. The government gets money from the meat. If every Hindu family looks after at least one cow, this will not happen. Government cannot stop this. Our biological mother feeds us only for a short time, but the Gau Mata gives us milk till death."
Asserting that she was ready to become a harbinger of change, she said, "When it rains, the first drop falls on the warm earth and cools it, thus making it fertile. Let me the first raindrop for the Hindu Samaj in our mission to put an end to cow slaughter. Every Hindu should become like Hanuman."
Attacking the Owaisi brothers without naming them, she said, "There are two cowards in Hyderabad who do not have guts to come in front of Hindus but are shouting behind our backs. When they speak, others also shout and some of our Hindus fear them. One of them had said if the police stay away for 25 minutes, he can finish off Hindus. That shows he fears the police. He should remember that Hindu blood flows in those policemen too. Police have the power to break him into pieces such that no bone would remain. When you say keep police away for 25 minutes, remember what happened on December 6 - Babri masjid was demolished when police was away."
"They stay in India, eat India's food and say 'Pakistan zindabad'. They should be beaten with footwear and thrown out of the country," she lashed out.
"They say holy people should not use such words, but that was earlier. Today we are being beaten up. This is not the era of showing the other cheek. We did not get Independence with non-violence. Lot of blood was shed and freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh had to take up arms. Similarly today sages too should take up the fight to make India a Vishwa Guru," she exhorted.
"Those who live in India must say Vande Mataram," she added.
Calling upon Hindus to build the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, she said, "Court should not decide about Ram Mandir - we should decide. The Ram Mandir is the pride of Hindus. In Hyderabad he (Owaisi) is saying they will not allow it. Neither he nor his Pakistan can stop us. We will build Ram Mandir first in Ayodhya and then in Islamabad (in Pakistan)."
On the issue of conversion and Ghar Wapsi, she said, "We are not doing conversion but Ghar Wapsi. We are not indulging in conversion by giving roti or paracetamol tablets, the way in which people are made Christians. Today Hindu population is 100 crore. We will do Ghar Wapsi till it becomes 125 crore. There say we do conversion, but if really come forward to do it, then there would be no Pakistan, Afghanistan or the Arabs."
She also called for a fight against love Jihad and said, "Our sisters' modesty is being looted. They are committing a sin. Our sisters are being used a tool for love Jihad. Arm the Hindu girls with swords, and if any Muslim looks at her, let her chop off his head."
She further said, "There is land Jihad. In Kerala and Assam, Namaz is performed on the streets by blocking the roads and also loud speakers are used five times a day. Is this is not sound pollution? Why cannot the government and Supreme court see this?
"The government gives subsidy for Hajj pilgrims but Hindus have to pay tax for Amarnath yatra. This is our Hindustan and our home. In other countries there is no such liberty. But in India these politicians for the purpose of votes are doing injustice to Hindus," she said.
"Bharat Mata is abused, our sisters are abused. Pakistan funds films in our country to insult our gods and godesses but we Hindus are silent," she added.
"Bhagavad Geeta says every soul is child of God and every life is divine. Bharat Mata is our land. We should fight against love Jihad and put an end to cow slaughter," she declared.
Burn ignorance, not Bhagavad Geeta: Pejawar Swamiji
Sri Vishweshteertha Swamiji of Pejawar Math said, "Our dharma is being affected by those who are influenced by western culture. This is really painful.
"Today, some are saying Bhagavad Geeta, which gave the world the message of duty, spirituality, service and corruption-free way of life, should be burnt. It is not Bhagavad Geeta but your ignorance that has to be burnt.
"Bhagavad Geeta gives the message of equality. Varna is not classification of birth but a classification of human behaviour and internal system. Every work is great. Bhagavad Geeta gives message of humanitarianism. I can challenge anyone that there is nothing conveying inequality in Bhagavad Geeta," he said, adding, "People who talk this way have no words to speak on Quran and Bible but only want to talk about Bhagavad Geeta. This is a painful thing."
On the issue of Ghar Wapsi, he said, "All are talking about Ghar Wapsi. But when there is conversion going on throughout the country no one speaks on it. If a question is asked about the difference between conversion and reconversion, no one has a clear answer. However, whether its conversion or reconversion, it should not be forcible.
"Some people ask what class the reconverted people belong to. The reconverted people will be given equal status as Hindus," he added.
"Hindu means one should be tolerant to other religions. We are not communal but believers in love."
Calling upon the youth to respect their religion, he said, "Youth should respect and protect the dignity of Hindu religion. They should not indulge in miscreant acts like pelting stones at religious centres and instead serve the suppressed class. Hindus will never harm other religions. Let us be united and organized for the service of this nation and live a peaceful, prosperous life."
VHP has united Hindus: Dr Veerendra Heggade
Dharmadhikari of Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala Dr D Veerendra Heggade lauded the VHP and said it had played an instrumental role in uniting the Hindus. "Earlier there were many diffferences between Hindus but VHP through its various programmes eliminated the differences. Even Hindu religious heads united because of VHP's efforts. VHP has also worked for social causes and against social discrimination."
He further said, "Today, many reformations have taken place especially in religious centres. Everyone is accepted without discrimination. This Samajotsava is not a celebration but a guiding light for the future. We should keep away our weaknesses. Hindutva means we should inculcate the culture of Hindu religion in our lives. We should give up bad habits, only then can Hindu Samaj be economically strengthened and bring maximum change in society. We should cultivate good character and become organized, protect our religious centres and involve in social work - later we can preach others. If do not do these things, we have no right to preach."
President of Samajotasava organizing committee Vijaynath Vittal Shetty said, "Today we see the district saffronized because of the efforts of youth who worked day and night for this event. It is a good thing that all Hindus have joined together today. We respect all religions and treat all castes equally. For us religion is first and caste is secondary.
"I became part of this programme because VHP approached me. Though there are various barriers, I attended this function," he added.
Earlier Report
Mangaluru: Hindu Samajotsava flagged off with vibrant procession
Pics: Meryick D'Silva / Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MD)
Mangaluru, Mar 1: The much talked-about Virat Hindu Samajotsava marking the golden jubilee of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) began with a grand and colourful 'shobha yatra' here on Sunday March 1.
The procession was flagged off at Dr Ambedkar circle and will culminate at Nehru Maidan, the venue for the event.
The entire stretch of the procession route bathed in shades of saffron as thousands of men and women marched in unison chanting 'Vande Mataram' and 'Bolo Bharat Mata ki Jai' and waving saffron flags.
Music bands, cultural troupes and tableaux added much colour to the procession.
The procession was headed by Vijaynath Vittal Shetty, Jagadish Shenava, M B Puranik, Sharan Pumpwell, Ganesh Karnik, Nagaraj Shetty, Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat and others.
Towards the end of the procession, it started raining.