South African Hindus to enjoy a major festival soon!

South African Hindus are taking out a traditional procession, with devotees carrying religiously decorated and blessed brass pots on heads, through the streets of Dundee in KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) on July 23.

This will mark the conclusion of three-day celebrations involving the offering of prayers to Hindu deities of Maha Marieammen, Draupathieammen, and Madurayveeran. Celebrations will include various ancient rituals besides flag hoisting, changing of the sacred thali, abeshagam, etc., reports suggest and will have the participation of many South African Hindus.

All are welcome to the festivities and complimentary lunch will be served. Guru Umesvaran Nagiah will be the officiating priest at the celebrations, which are being organized and hosted by Dundee Hindu Temple (DHT), according to reports.

South African Hindus left aghast after Hindu woman is accused of witchcraft

Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, commended efforts of DHT leaders and area community for keeping the ancient and sacred traditions alive though such celebrations.

South African Hindus were left aghast after a Northdale Hospital manager was accused of practicing witchcraft through her Hindu God pratimas (murtis) which she kept in her work locker.

The South African Hindu woman in question is a follower of Hare Krishna and she was forced to remove her incense stick, pratima/murti of Hindu God Murugan and picture of Sai Baba from her locker at the Pietermaritzburg hospital and bring them to the hospital’s CEO Buhle Maphanga and seven other members of the hospital’s executive committee.

The female South African Hindu manager whose name has not yet come to light was mocked at and ridiculed for her beliefs leading to her getting so traumatized that she had to go for psychiatric treatment.

Prior to this, Dawie Kriel a Durban man ranted against Hindus for using firecrackers during Diwali festival in an epic rant that had the Hindu community angry.

In his comments, laced with religious undertones, he called the Hindus ‘idol worshippers’ and ‘devil disciples.’

As per the 2001 census for South Africa, there are 5,52,000 Hindus in the country and  Hinduism accounted for 1.2% of the total population. The numbers of the South African Hindus have supposed to have increased in recent times.

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