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Throwing babies off tall buildings "for good health"
When I watched this video, I honestly didn't think they were actually going to throw the baby off the building! They did.Granted, it was a soft landing, but still.
Muslims in western India have been observing a bizarre ritual - they've been throwing their young children off a tall building to improve their health, writes Reuters.The faithful have been observing the ritual at a shrine in Solapur, in western India's Maharastra, for more than five hundred years. They believe it will make their children strong and say no accidents have ever happened.
I think it's time Islam hired a global PR agency to deal with all their publicity crisis. This one is no crowd pleaser, either.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Rob Brooks-Bilson May 2nd 2008 5:04PM
Hey Iva, "I think it's time Islam hired a global PR agency to deal with all their publicity crisis. This one is no crowd pleaser, either" is a bit insensitive, don't you think?
A little more research on the subject, beyond the video and short blurb you linked to, shows that the ritual is practiced by both Muslims and Hindus in India. Also, it's clearly a cultural tradition and has nothing to do with either Islam or Hinduism.
I'm sure you don't mean to come off this way, but this post really smacks of religious and cultural bigotry - something I'm seeing more and more from a handful of Gadling's posters.
Amber May 2nd 2008 5:27PM
i agree. this has absolutely NOTHING to do with religion. this is more of a cultural thing, & such bigotry is not appreciated in a travel blog at all.
Moody75 May 2nd 2008 6:41PM
I am not a fan of any religion but Gadling is really getting off track here.
I think Iva should have kept her unfortunate comments on her own personal blog.
nazmus May 2nd 2008 6:41PM
I think we should all mind our bussiness's and stop trying to critize a main religion. There is no reason to attack a religion for you own opinion. You may not like it but it is not YOUR child and you probably are from another religion. So you wouldnt understand. These people believe in that as much as they believe in Allah. Leave them alone. The baby is alive , keep your pants on.
BrianM May 2nd 2008 10:35PM
I love how this has turned into a cultural sensitivity issue, at what point does ones culture take precedence over another cultures beliefs is a question that just absolutely fascinates me. I wonder how the middle east and the muslims are going to react to Hillary if she wins the white house, will they acquiest and show her respect by shaking her hand or will they not be willing to meet with her....
Regardless I would love to see any of the poeple commenting get back on the bus... http://www.gadling.com/2008/05/01/praying-bus-driver-kicks-passengers-off-bus/
No matter how sensitive you think you are to other cultures you will always offend someone.
id May 3rd 2008 8:38AM
1. The reporter clearly states 'Muslims & Hindus' yet this article picks up on the muslim parts only
2. Do not confuse this as part of Islam, if a christian/jew kills someone it's not the religion. This is PART OF CULTURE AND NOT RELIGION SO IT HAS NO BEARING!
que May 3rd 2008 11:08AM
i think the commentary in this post might convince me to stop reading gadling...
Douglas May 3rd 2008 2:16PM
What any of these comments fails to point out is that no children have been lost YET. Remarkable, surely.
But doesn't this fall into the same category of Jehovah's Witnesses not permitting proper medical treatment for children when absolutely needed, or genital mutilation of young girls in some African countries, or forcing 12- and 13- and 14-year-old girls to bear children in these polygamist religious compounds.
Respect for another's culture is certainly important, but when that conflicts with the safety or health of a child who, later in life would turn from those traditions, and puts them in imminent danger, that's when everything else must go by the boards and the safety of a child must be given greater weight.
Why, the British back in the mid 19th century put an end to the tradition of Indian women being cremated alive on the funeral biers of their husbands.
Culture is fine, but when people's lives are in danger, then I think culture takes a back seat. Just an opinion.
Moody75 May 3rd 2008 6:54PM
Douglas, your comments are valid. But what does this conversation have to do with a TRAVEL blog?