Deepavali is a meatless festival but leading Hotels in Sri Lanka offer meat distorting the purity of the occasion
Posted on October 28th, 2016
Dharma Voices for Animals (DVA) Colombo Chapter, Sri Lanka
Deepavali (or Diwali) is a national holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Guyana and many other countries. The festival signifies the triumph of good over evil.
It is one of the most important festivals of the year and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes. Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil. Celebrants wear new clothes through the festival and share sweets and snacks with family members and friends. Diwali is the most popular festival in India. The whole country is lit up.”
The Indian tradition is the consumption of a delicious traditional vegetarian dinner to mark Deepavali. It is a meatless occasion. The food is vegetarian, as nonviolence (ahimsa) is a principle of major Indian religions and by not killing an animal to make the meal, it is considered pure.
Yet leading Hotels in Sri Lanka regardless of the Hindu tradition brazenly offer non – vegetarian dishes as Deepavali fare. This is outrageous conduct. Local newspapers are unwilling to point out the misrepresentation and falsification.
It can happen to Vesak also if leading hotels are not challenged on matters of this nature by followers of the Eastern Dharmic Religions i.e. Buddhists, Hindus,Jains.
Celebrate Deepavali ( with meat ) at Chutneys, Cinnamon Grand
http://www.ft.lk/article/576514/Celebrate-Deepavali-at-Chutneys–Cinnamon-Grand
Honouring the traditions of the ‘festival of lights’ celebrated by Hindu’s around the world, the city hotel Cinnamon Grand is laying out an extensive buffet featuring customary Deepavali food and delicious South Indian cuisine at Chutneys, on 29 October from 7.00 p.m to 11.00 p.m
The special menu will include vegetarian and non-vegetarian fare.
Speciality dishes include kodi mirchi (chicken with chilli flakes), nandu melagu masala (whole crab cooked in pepper masala), kozhi mappas (chicken with potato curry), mavidikai royyala pulusu (prawn with raw mango curry), mutton sukka (mutton sautéed with onion, pepper and chilli spices) from the non-vegetarian section.
Dharma Voices for Animals (DVA)
Colombo Chapter, Sri Lanka
October 31st, 2016 at 3:49 am
Yes this is true but why is it only meatless, should it not be vegetarian meaning no fish, sprats, prawns, crab etc. as well? I think vegetarian should really mean exactly that, vegetarian. You cannot just be meatless only but it should include not consuming any living being.
Also there are many other issues such as saying no to industrial farming and saying yes to free range and organic farming of chicken, sheep etc. Saying no to laboratory testing using animals, saying no to the fur trade, welfare of working animals such as horses, donkeys, elephants, taking care of stray dogs, cats etc., more space for animals in zoos, use of fishing methods which does not destroy the marine eco-system, declaring marine nature reserves and expanding our nature reserve system, human methods of vermin control, use of insecticides and pesticides sparingly etc. There are so many issues of importance that are ignored.