Tuesday, November 09, 2010

Proposed Bill In India Threatens 1000-Year Old Religious Festival

India's Pune Mirror today reports that the government of the Indian state of Maharashtra is set to enact the Prevention of Human Sacrifice, Sexual Harassment and Inhuman Acts Bill this winter. However warkaris complain that the proposed law may end up banning the Palkhi Festival during which for 1000 years adherents walk barefoot some 150 miles, singing and dancing, to the holy town of Pandharpur.  Confusingly worded Section 13 of the proposed Act is seen as banning any kind of physical pressure, torture or exertion in the name of religion.