Carvaka
Notice on Petition against Puja in Government Offices
The Madras High Court on Tuesday ordered notice to the State government on a writ petition seeking a direction to authorities not to permit Ayudha Puja celebrations in government offices.
In the petition, filed through counsel S. Doraisamy and V. Elangovan, petitioner T.S. Mani, president of the Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam, Tiruvanmiyur here, stated that the State government had issued an order in December 1993 prohibiting religious worship or prayer within its office premises.
In August 1994, the Chief Secretary had written to all Secretaries citing a letter from the Centre to ensure that no religious worship or prayer took place on office campuses.
The petitioner said that during Ayudha Puja, government offices became temples. No official activities were carried out.
Last year, members of the PDK tried to prevent the conduct of puja in police stations. Cases were foisted against them.
He wrote to the authorities on September 21 this year to issue instructions for preventing puja in government offices. There was no response. Hence the petition.
The petitioner said that during Ayudha Puja, government offices become temples.
Today, October6, 2011, is Vijayadasami. It is a public holiday. In Port Blair (Andaman & Nicobar Islands), where a significant section of the population consists of Bengali speaking Hindus, this day is celebrated as Durga Puja. There are dozens of durga puja pandals set up by various organizations across Port Blair, each one of them attracting people in hundreds and thousands, with women forming the most visible section of the devotees - they come attired in colorful saris and churidars embroidered with sequins and beads (you simply can’t miss their glittering outfits). The megaphones set up outside these pandals blare out crudely composed devotional songs as well as the latest bollywood item numbers. As I write this, 3.30 pm, Munni Badnam Hui Darling Tere Liye…is the one coming out of the pandal outside my flat.
