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The Hindu Stampede: Illogical Behavior at Sacred Sites

S. Hewage

This morning I read in the news that another 147 Hindu pilgrims died during a visit to a Hindu sacred site in Rajesthan. This is the second such incident in barely two months. Every year we hear that hundreds of Indians are killed in a stampede trying to enter into some religious site.

What frustrates me, as a non-Indian, who does not understand the logic of this mob behavior among Hindus, is the lack of any meaningful response to address this problem from the Indian authorities.

Why isn’t there orderly conduct among Hindu pilgrims when they visit their sacred sites? Is it a requirement for pilgrims to become emotionally agitated and uncontrolled as acts of reverence? Why can’t Indian authorities take some meaningful actions to bring crowd control measures to prevent these unwanted deaths? Is it an act of God in some disguised manner to bring population control to India? Can someone provide an explanation for the cause of this recurring, primitive behavior of the people of India?

The media does not give a full picture of this very incomprehensible behavior among these people. Do they want go to heaven by killing themselves in a stampede to please some God—is this the actual reason for it? I was taught that one of the roles of religion is to infuse inner calm and reflection to everyday life.

Indian leaders want their country to be a nuclear power, and send Indian scientists to space in the 21st century. Yet, they are utterly incapable of setting up a mechanism to control crowds at their sacred sites.

As a Buddhist, I know when you go to a sacred site, such as a temple, you normally move about with serenity and avoid any disturbance that would undermine the peaceful atmosphere of the place. I believe that Hinduism too teaches such orderly conduct among its followers. This unnecessary stampeding is, I believe, a result of the lack of discipline among average Indians as we often witness in overcrowded trains and bus-stations.

This is where the Indian authorities should take measures to bring order and avoid these recurring carnages. Orderly conduct in everyday life is a key prerequisite to become a thriving super-power in the 21st century.

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