Ridiculous and Bizarre Baby Tossing in India

Netarhat Lake, India (trekearth)

Preface

Obviously from the article title I do not support these Hindu/Islamic religious practices and reason they are ridiculous and bizarre. Further, although I understand there are other religious traditions in the world apart from Judeo-Christian that have thousands of years of history, I would state that these particular practices are dangerous and unethical as I reason it is not worth it in any way risking the well-being of babies with such practices. In particular a head, back or spinal cord injury to one of the babies in my mind would not be worth the risk of obeying an age old religious practice. I am not involved in the medical profession but based on the fact babies are being tossed, they are seemingly rituals where something very wrong and something very immoral could potentially take place.

Mr. Jeff Jenkins of Thoughts and Theology blog posted a BBC clip of one of these events concerning Muslims on Facebook and I thought the story would serve as good religious education. I can certainly state more in the comments section if there is a suitable public response.

The Telegraph

Quotes:

'In a bizarre ritual, Hindu priests in the south Indian state of Karnataka toss babies from the rooftop of a temple onto a cloth held by waiting men, believing that this will make them grow stronger.'

'Thanks to their parents and a deep-rooted belief, babies in the Bagalkot district of south India's Karnataka state unwittingly found themselves being tossed off the roof of a temple onto a sheet held by men waiting below, in a ritual that is believed to make them stronger.'

'Though the ritual often evokes criticism, it is defended by devotees and priests, who feel that their belief necessitates a ritual that places babies at such huge risk. A trustee of the Marutheshwara temple, Basavaraj, said that the ritual was an age-old one and it was important that it be respected.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2126845/Baby-tossing-ritual-Karnataka-India-Priests-hurl-children-30ft-good-luck.html

Quotes:

'Terrified toddlers scream and sob as they're shaken by men in robes and tossed from a balcony 30ft above the ground. It's not the plot of horror film - but an ages-old annual ritual carried in southern India, meant to bring participating infants good luck, health and prosperity.Hard-to-watch footage of the ceremony, held each year in the state of Karnataka, has horrified children's rights groups, who have labeled it 'barbaric' and want it banned by the Indian government.'

'The practice is believed to date back centuries and takes place across India - involving both Hindus and Muslims.'

'When the children land safely, the crowd celebrates wildly, passing each infant around before returning them to their mothers. Local campaigners managed to get the practice banned in 2011, but it returned to Digambeshwara temple in Nagrala village last week - much to the frustration of Lov Verma, from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights.'

BBC clip on the Islamic practice. Babies are thrown fifty feet from a tower.

End
Personal Reflections


September 6, 2012 (Not India)
It looks like no one has been watering the front yard of 'my estate'...


September 6, 2012 (Not India)


Ninety minute round trip, Saturday afternoon Metro Vancouver commute. Another problem of evil? I was heading home after assisting my good friend move. I decided to stop off at Canada Safeway for gasoline and groceries.


Short martial arts workout with aluminum baseball bat. One hand and two hand. Sort of satirical perhaps... But only if I don't connect with a home invader.;)


Evening computer work after walking hours in Vancouver September 9, 2012. Matt and I and some other friends parts of the journey, walked from Burrard Street to downtown Vancouver and back. Reminds me of Manchester and the four hour walks after church, from church back to my flat. I rival those walks in Vancouver somewhat.  Pardon my ignorance, but I thought at a crosswalk that the 'white man' signal meant we could walk, and the ' orange hand' meant stop, but today when we were heading across a crosswalk, I was in the lead this particular time, someone in a sports car decided to try and beat me across the crosswalk, and succeeded. My first thought was not to pray for him. No comment on comments under my breath.;)

I think the webcam works pretty well.