Christians join Hindu temple renovation

Francis Rodrigues, Mangalore
UCA News

Mangalore, 21 April 2011: A group of Catholics in southern India have volunteered to help renovate a Hindu temple and prepare for its festival.

 

“We were cordially welcomed by Hindu volunteers at the temple,” said Father Louis Cutinha, parish priest of Naravi in Mangalore diocese who guided the group.

 

Around 150 Catholics and nearly 100 Hindus worked together to renovate the Suryanarayana Temple before the upcoming annual temple festival. “It was heartwarming to see the sense of brotherhood and unity between the two communities,” he said.

 

Mangalore, a Christian stronghold in Karnataka state, had witnessed attacks on Christians by alleged Hindu radicals some three years ago. Early April saw attacks on three Christian-managed homes for poor children by Hindu radicals under the pretext of checking religious conversion.

 

Catholic volunteers in front of the temple

 

Christians have to spread the message of brotherhood “especially in this Holy Week” and in the context of sectarian tension “around us,” Father Louis Cutinha said.

 

The temple priest Sri Sri N. Vasanth Bhat said the group of Catholics “worked with discipline and utmost interest as if it is their own house.”

 

M. Babu Shetty, a Hindu leader, noted the Christian gesture was the “first example” of religious harmony in the area.

 

Seminarian Anil D’Souza, who was part of the group, said the gesture came a few days after someone removed a banner the parish put up welcoming the temple festival.

 

“The missing banner incident made the parish council offer voluntary service for the temple,” he said.

 

Priscilla D’Souza, a Catholic, said she the work helped her “transcend the walls for caste and creed.”