Shocking: Kala Academy ‘purified’ after Parrikar’s funeral Darshan
SANDESH PRABHUDESAI, PANAJI | 23 March 2019 22:30 IST
In a shocking incident, Goa Kala Academy, a government institution, performed a Hom (होम) today for Shanti (Peace) and Shuddhikaran (Purification), since former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s mortal remains were kept there for the Darshan.
Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude, who is also the Chairman of Kala Academy, has ordered inquiry into this incident, stating that such unscientific activities cannot be promoted inside government buildings.
Earlier, while talking to this journalist, Minister Gaude confirmed that he had permitted the staff to perform the religious ceremony.
“They came to me asking for permission to perform Hom. I am not aware of any Shanti or Shuddhikaran”, he told this journalist in a telephonic conversation.
Parrikar’s mortal remains were kept in the Kala Academy complex on Monday, 18 March, almost for a whole day before performing final rites at Miramar beach.
Thousands of people had visited the place for Parrikar’s final Darshan, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Shanti and Shuddhikaran ceremony was conducted for the whole complex with three Pujaris (priests).
When a journalist enquired today morning what was happening, one of the staffers seen in the video told him that they are performing Shanti and Shudhikaran after Parrikar’s funeral.
When enquired, the religious scholars told goanews.com that Hom is normally performed on three occasions: 1) If there is any impurity happened in the premises, 2) If you had assured (सांगणें) about such ceremony for any eventuality or 3) When any person dies.
Sources in Kala Academy disclosed to goanews.com that the same staffers, who took initiative for this post-death ‘purification’ ceremony, had also objected to keep Parrikar’s mortal remains in the Kala Academy complex.
During telephonic conversation, Gaude initially said this is a minor incident. But later assured to find out exactly what happened in the name of ceremony. (You may click on the same video to hear the full telephonic conversation.)
After this journalist had a telephonic conversation with Minister Govind Gaude, he immediately updated his Facebook wall, stating the following:
I have taken a strong note of some activities carried out in Kala Academy premises as rituals today. I have ordered an inquiry into it. We cannot promote or patronise unscientific activities inside government buildings.
You may click here to see Govind Gaude’s Facebook wall. https://www.facebook.com/GovindForPriol
The incident has also gone viral on Facebook, posted by journalist Manaswini Prabhune Nayak, narrating her own experience at Kala Academy today morning.
While comments are pouring in condemning this incident, Manaswini in her Marathi post has narrated what she saw in the Kala Academy complex and has raised two pertinent questions:
- If mortal remains should not be kept in government institutions, then will the Government also conduct such purification ritual of Miramar Beach?
- Did Kala Academy complex become impure because Parrikar’s mortal remains were kept in the complex?
You may click here to see Manaswini’s Facebook wall. https://www.facebook.com/manaswini.prabhune
There is absolutely no harm in what has been done. We have to respects sentiments of Kala Academy staff. Atheists and anti Hindu people are making frivolous comments. Who is this manasi. What is her useless logic when she compares kala academy, a dwelling with Miramar beach which is an open space. It shows her knowledge of hindu rituals. Let matter rest as it is. It's hardly an issue.