Social media reels at pilgrim sites stir debate

BENGALURU: A debate is now brewing over young girls posting videos on social media of them dancing at Hindu pilgrim sites. The talk has become more shrill after a girl posted a video of herself dancing in the foreground of the Kedarnath temple in Uttharakand.

The social media user has been criticised by some for posting the video, while a few others have come out in defence of the girl. Among them was Vijeta Ananthkumar, daughter of late Union Minister H N Ananthkumar, who took to Twitter saying, “Don’t understand the criticism. Isn’t it a good thing that the younger generation is visiting temples? Also, dancing and rejoicing to music is not a sin in Hinduism. The beauty is in the diversity of expression.”

Meanwhile, some Hindu groups have taken exception and plan to write to the Kedarnath temple authorities to prevent such acts. “Such acts are condemnable. People go to temples to soak in the energy. For fun activities, there are other places like malls. The sanctity of temples should be maintained and the Satwik nature should not be  disturbed. People should maintain the decorum of each place. We plan to bring the issue to the notice of the  Kedarnath temple authorities by writing to them,” said Bhavya Gowda, a Hindu activist.

Bhavya Gowda