RE: Boycott Valentine Day & Celebrate Maha Shivaratri

[Guest guest]

This seems a bit fanatical, and I’m surprised it’s even being posted here.

Valentine’s Day is a fun holiday (to the celebrants) and doe sno damage to

Hinduism, nor degrades it. A bit petty to want to “ban” it, IMO.

 

 

 

¸..• ´¨¨)) -:¦:-

¸.•´ .•´¨¨))

((¸¸.•´ ..•´ -:¦:- ..::Brightest Blessings::..

-:¦:- ((¸¸.•´.¸..•` ..::Bela::..

 

 

 

"Like nectar in the fresh morning flower, let goodness fill you. The heart

that unfolds all its petals spreading the fragrance of goodness is the

choicest offering at the altar of God" - Amma

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

shakti shakti wrote:

 

Boycott Valentine Day

Valentine's Day was not part of Indian culture

 

"It is nothing but a Western onslaught on India's culture to attract youth

for commercial purposes."...

 

 

 

Dear shakti shakti,

 

Why can't we do both?

 

Goodness gracious ... certainly no one is forcing Valentine's Day on the

people of India. Just as many Americans have chosen to celebrate the Holy Days

and Holidays of India, I imagine that some Indians have chosen to celebrate

western traditions. I don't think this is a bad thing as long as we know where

the tradition we are celebrating comes from and we are honoring that culture.

The world has no borders. Lines on maps are meaningless. We are becoming a

global family. At least, I hope we are because the alternative is too horrible

to imagine.

 

I do think that businesses have sometimes gone out of their way to promote

certain practices (like switching babies in third world countries from mother's

milk to formula, with no consideration that the water mixed with the formula

was not fit for drinking). And there are McDonalds popping up all over the

globe. But I believe that, despite the onslaught of cultural items or

practices, ultimately it is up to the people to hold their own traditions dear,

which

I believe they can do, even if they send valentines to their loved ones.

 

We have seen, or at least I have, that as cultures migrate and blend today

(as opposed to in the past), there is also a growing appreciation for the value

of the integrity of a culture in its original form. Certainly, despite the

initial discrimination against certain immigrant groups who came to America,

our culture now bears the imprints of these cultures. My favorite place to go

in NYC was Little Italy ... best coffee and cannolis anywhere. And when I

lived in the Washington, DC, area, it was marvelous to be able to go out and go

to Indian stores that sold both groceries specific to the Indian menu and

Hindu bhajan tapes, or to a Jamaican market, or to an Indian Jewelery supply

store that also had wonderful statues of Ganesha, Shiva and other Hindu

dieties.

It was rich and diverse, and I was very thankful for it. I also miss it

greatly. And I'm sorry, I just can't wrap my brain around the concept that

Valentine's Day is some sort of alternative Christian "war" on non-Christian

cultures.

 

I don't know about the origins of Valentine's Day, and actually, I don't

care. What it has always been for me, as I have grown up, is a way to let

someone know they are special. This cannot be compared to a culture forcing its

practices on another country, as perhaps was done when India was occupied by the

UK.

 

Those of us on the Devi Mandir digest were invited to send in thanks and

good wishes to be put on a card and given to Shree Maa and Swamiji with some

bouquets of flowers. The elf who made this possible, simply left the flowers and

the card on the altar where Maa and Swamiji would find it in the morning. If

we sent Valentine wishes to Amma, would she object? Or would she see it as an

expression of her devotees love and enthusiasm?

 

Jai Ma ~ Linda