Only in India... pay $114 fine if you bury 1st born alive

[Atlanteax]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/04/14/india.burials.reut/index.html

NEW DELHI, India (Reuters) -- Indian police have charged 80 people for burying children alive in an ancient Hindu ceremony known as "the festival of pits."

The ceremony, in which children -- some less than a year old -- are buried alive briefly and then dug up, happened on Monday in southern Tamil Nadu state, The Asian Age reported on Thursday.

Authorities have been trying for years to stop it and people found guilty face up to three years in jail and/or a fine of 5000 rupees ($114).

Every two years, parents who have vowed to bury their first-born if they are blessed with a child, take part in the Kuzhimattru Thiru Vizha ceremony.

The children are drugged to make them unconscious and placed in shallow "graves" in temple courtyards.

The pits are covered with leaves and dirt and the children are pulled out after Hindu priests chant a brief prayer -- lasting up to a minute.

[Atlanteax]

I am of the opinion that no State should tolerate a Religion that "toys" with Death.

[Warriorbird]

The girls name "Beatrix" and the surname "Kiddo" have shown a suprising rise in India in recent times.

[xtc]

Wow, not to diminish anyone's beliefs but that does sound crazy. I am assuming this isn't a standard practice in Hinduism?


$114 may not sound like a lot to us but I bet it is alot for these people.

[Wezas]

Originally posted by Atlanteax
The children are drugged to make them unconscious and placed in shallow "graves" in temple courtyards.

The pits are covered with leaves and dirt and the children are pulled out after Hindu priests chant a brief prayer -- lasting up to a minute.

Am I the only one thinking the media is loving this headline?

Except once you get to the meat of it, you see that it lasts, at most, a minute.

Stupid? Yes.
Wrong? Yes.
OMG THEY'RE KILLING THEIR CHILDREN!?! No.

[StrayRogue]

Originally posted by Wezas

Originally posted by Atlanteax
The children are drugged to make them unconscious and placed in shallow "graves" in temple courtyards.

The pits are covered with leaves and dirt and the children are pulled out after Hindu priests chant a brief prayer -- lasting up to a minute.

Am I the only one thinking the media is loving this headline?

Except once you get to the meat of it, you see that it lasts, at most, a minute.

Stupid? Yes.
Wrong? Yes.
OMG THEY'RE KILLING THEIR CHILDREN!?! No.

I believe melodramatic is the word. Far worse has been done in the name of religion. Far far worse.

[DeV]

What Wezas said.

[xtc]

Originally posted by Wezas

Originally posted by Atlanteax
The children are drugged to make them unconscious and placed in shallow "graves" in temple courtyards.

The pits are covered with leaves and dirt and the children are pulled out after Hindu priests chant a brief prayer -- lasting up to a minute.

Am I the only one thinking the media is loving this headline?

Except once you get to the meat of it, you see that it lasts, at most, a minute.

Stupid? Yes.
Wrong? Yes.
OMG THEY'RE KILLING THEIR CHILDREN!?! No.

I guess you could make a sensationalist headline about Baptist swho baptise their kids in pools or lakes.

"In a bizarre religious ritual, children are forced underwater in a mock drowning to show their devotion to God"

[AnticorRifling]

114 dollars?! That's like an entire month's pay working as a Dell tech support tech in their India call center!!!!

[Xcalibur]

Ahhh... that's from that county Zelda's money is coming from, thanks India!

[Wezas]

Hearing about some religion's snipping the tip of the penis off should make people's head asplode then.

[Suppa Hobbit Mage]

Actually, 5000 rupees, if I'm remembering correctly the salaries of my staff there, is about 4 months salary for a supervisory position.

[Back]

There is another Indian holiday that just passed last weekend. The way it was described to me was... people wear white, grab handfulls of vibrantly colored powder, then go to town on each other.

Sounded a lot more fun than this, though I am sure to the people who did this thought it was as important as say a baptism.

[edited for spelling and missing word]

[Edited on 4-14-2005 by Backlash]

[Caiylania]

I don't know, gives me the shivers. With a ceremony like that, something goes wrong and that is a lot of dead kids.

[Hulkein]

I don't think circumcision should even be considered just a religious thing anymore.

A lot of people get their kids done for reasons other then religion.

[Edited on 4-15-2005 by Hulkein]

[Xcalibur]

Originally posted by Hulkein
I don't think circumcision should even be considered just a religious thing anymore.

A lot of people get their kids done for reasons other then religion.

[Edited on 4-15-2005 by Hulkein]

Which are?

[Warriorbird]

Theoretically to prevent cancer and to make sure there little boys have no problem cleaning themselves. Alternately, because they don't want their kids to look different then their father.

[Showal]

Yeah there are a number of other health reasons too

[ElanthianSiren]

Originally posted by Showal
Yeah there are a number of other health reasons too

Actually, as long as it's kept clean, the glans/head of the penis is more healthy with the foreskin (prepuce), as its been shown in medical study to protect against certain diseases and infections via beneficial bacteria. Also, there is a theory it protects against AIDs, but that's never been proven for or against. Again, must be kept clean, but do not use anti bacterial soap :)

For more info, I'd consult a human sexuality text. A lot of what I've seen on the internet are sites that are faith based.

Also, there are several africian religions that still practice the removal of a woman's clitoris around 13 years of age. Now, I must say, that makes me cringe FAR more than someone substituting earth for water in a baptismal ritual. In fact, as someone mentioned, baptisim itself is sort of scary. Drowning on a teaspoon of dirt or leaves is fairly impossible imo. Drowning on a teaspoon of water, very possible for a baby.

-Melissa