CHENNAI: The Hindu Munnani has objected to keeping the temples open till midnight of Dec. 31 to welcome the English New Year. BJP national secretary H. Raja who too is of the same view, claimed opening temples at midnight is against the agamas. Urging the authorities to discourage the youth from indulging in midnight revelry, Raja claimed opening the temples at midnight is against the agamas. Objecting to the conduct of special pujas in the temples to usher in the English New Year, the Hindu Munnani said such a practice was against the Hindu tradition. The Munnani also demanded a ban on rave midnight parties under the guise of ushering the New Year.
According to sources in Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) department, the temples coming under the administrative control of the department are not kept open throughout the night to welcome the English New Year. “Temples privately managed conduct special pujas for the occasion taking into account the sentiments of the people,” an official said.
“Though we celebrate Tamil New Year’s day in a grand manner, for many reasons people follow the English New Year as being followed in rest of the world. As most of the people follow the English calendar in their daily lives, they tend to regard January 1 as auspicious occasion for new beginning,” he added. BJP: 2018 will see hunger-free India: BJP state president Dr. Tamilisai, without wading into this controversy, greeted the people on Saturday.
“2018 is noticing a corruption-free India. It will see an Indian without poverty and free from hunger. Let the English New Year bloom for this,” she said taking an optimistic view. “Let 2018 radiate sweetness in everybody’s life and vanish their worries. Let terrorism be eliminated, and let the New Year ensure protection and prosperity for everyone,” she said greeting the people on her own behalf and on behalf of the BJP.
