Hindu's deity Shree Ganesh trivialised in a play at Melbourne Festival !

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mount Laurel, New Jersey, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) September 26, 2011 --

Melbourne, Australia: Recently, Forum for Hindu Awakening, a non-profit Hindu organisation, received a complaint from a Hindu about a play “Ganesh versus the Third Reich.” The play by ‘Back to Back Theatre’ will be performed at Malthouse Theatre from 29 September 2011 during the Melbourne Festival. Upon further investigation, Forum for Hindu Awakening came across the website showing the picture of a man with elephant head in Sumo like dress and pose behind Hitler which is not in accordance to the Scriptural description. Portrayal of Shree Ganesh is contrary to the way Hindu Scriptures describe His form and is contrary to His form depicted in Hindu temples and shrines. It is highly objectionable to Hindu religious sentiments that the revered Deity is being used in the fictitious context.

Forum for Hindu Awakening has protested this denigration by writing to the Producer and Director of the play, Organisers of the Melbourne Festival that is showing this play and the management of the Malthouse Theatre where the play will be performed, requesting them to cancel the performance of this play.

When Back to Back Theatre was contacted about the denigration of Shree Ganesh in their play, its Executive Producer, Alice Nash has responded that they are going to have meeting next week with representatives from the Hindu Community Council, facilitated by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Representatives from Back to Back Theatre, Melbourne Festival, Malthouse Theatre and the Indian High Consul in Melbourne.

The Melbourne Festival organiser has also mentioned the meeting to take place and added, “We have every reason to expect that Melbourne audiences are looking forward to the production and will be able to judge it on its merits.” There is no response from the management of Malthouse Theatre.

Hindus in Melbourne and across Australia are protesting against the premiering of this play. Some proud Hindus from Melbourne have contacted government officials and the Multifaith advisory group. Forum for Hindu Awakening urges all organisations involved in the play to show sensitivity to Hindu religious sentiments and has appealed to the supporters of Hinduism to peacefully and lawfully protest to the organisers of the play.

Back to Back Theatre     Forum for Hindu Awakening     Ganesh versus the Third Reich     Hindu Dharma     Hindu religious sentiments     hinduism     Malthouse Theatre     Melbourne Festival