The Bombay High Court’s suggestion to relocate the Siddhivinayak Temple to a safer place has created a furor among political leaders, historians and devotees alike.
Any such move will affect the shops, which have been there for over 50 years
The Bombay High Court’s suggestion to relocate the Siddhivinayak Temple to a safer place has created a furor among political leaders, historians and devotees alike. Many feel that the sanctity of the temple will be disturbed if it is relocated.
“The faith in Lord Ganesha of the Siddhivinayak temple has been built over the years. The location is a key factor in that ,” said Jayant Salgoankar, a Hindu religious expert. “The temple will lose its holy value,” said Suhasini Waingankar, a 75-year old woman and a visitor to the temple for the past 50 years.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray opposed the suggestion. “If security is an issue, the Parliament and the Prime Minister’s Office should be shifted to a Special Economic Zone,” he said.
The HC’s suggestion has even put flower-shops around the temple in a fix. A majority of the shops have been functioning for the past 50 years and owners say shifting the temple will deprive them of their sole means of income. “If the temple is relocated, we cannot open our flower shops there,” said Avinash Tembe, a flower-seller whose family has been in the business for the past two generations.
However, historian Sharda Dwivedi felt that relocation could not tamper with faith. “Religion is a personal issue. However I feel the security threat to the shrine will continue even if it is relocated.” She also cited two instances in the history of Mumbai where shrines had been shifted and still continued to be as popular.
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