Tamil and Telugu-speaking Hindus will on Tuesday observe Purtassi, an annual festival on the South Indian calendar until mid October. Many devout people avoid non-vegetarian food, alcohol and smoking. During this period we need to use this time also for some introspection as a community. It is very important to remember a fundamental Hindu teaching that your blessing comes from your mother or elders first and is simply not given the due importance. It is important going forward, as parents teach our children of our rich culture.
Our religious organisations now have a bigger role to play as a moral compass and it is now important than ever for our people to start to look very carefully at where our religious organisations are, and start to demand that these organisations and their leaders be the bastion of what is morally, ethically and religiously correct.
It is my prayer that all devotees receive what they seek during this time of prayer. I am a firm believer and subscribe to the saying, “before you call yourself spiritual or religious, learn kindness towards your elders, stop backstabbing and bad mouthing, once you achieve the above then you are free”. I would like to wish all Tamil and Telugu-speaking Hindus well over the fasting period.
DHAYALAN MOODLEY | Mobeni Heights
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