Hindus, Jews demand probe into Durgapuja hurdles in Rome

Nevada (US), Sept 30 (ANI): Hindus and Jews have asked for thorough enquiry into the reportedly last minute withdrawal of the permission by officials to celebrate Durgapuja festival in a public park in Rome.Rajan Zed, acclaimed Hindu statesman; and Rabbi Jonathan B. Freirich, prominent Jewish leader in Nevada and California in USA; in a joint statement in Nevada, said that it amounted to humiliation of the entire Hindu community. Although, reportedly after lot of persuasion, the permission was later restored, but devotees say that it delayed the festival by 48 hours. According to reports, similar incident happened last year also. What happened to the provision for freedom of religion in the Italian constitution, Zed, who is the president of Universal Society of Hinduism, and Rabbi Freirich asked.Though largely Catholic, Italy has significant non-Catholic Christian communities, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Baha'is, Buddhists, and atheist/agnostic, etc.

"Religious Freedom Report 2008" of the U.S. Department of State, writing about Italy, points out: "There were occasional reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice".Hindu Goddess Durga is honored during Durgapuja festival as the savior of the world from evil. Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksha (liberation) is its ultimate goal. (ANI)