Hindus react to Cook Islands Bishop accusation of idol worship

Kartik Krushnapaksha 2, Kaliyug Varsha 5115

Doesn’t the so-called Bishop know that American President, Britain’s Prime Minister etc. Christians celebrate Diwali; Vatican Church extends good wishes on the occasion of Diwali ? Or is he opposing because it is easier to oppose Hindus than these leaders ?

A leader of Fiji's biggest Hindu religious organisation says a Cook Islands Bishop is misguided for opposing the public celebration of the festival of Diwali on Rarotonga.

A Cook Islands church leader says holding a public celebration of the Hindu festival of Diwali on Rarotonga is a blasphemy against the Christian god.

Tutai Pere, Bishop of the Apostolic Church of the Cook Islands, says Cook Islands is a christian country, and celebrating Diwali involves idolatory, which is a blasphemy against the Christian God. (Hindu Dharma has never criticised any festival celebrated by followers of different religions or criticised their manner of worships nor have raised objection to existence of any Sect; but the so-called Bishop is exhibiting narrow-mindedness of his religion by opposing Hindus’ festival on the basis of his religion ! – Editor, Dainik Sanatan Prabhat)

Vijendra Prakash, the general secretary of the Sanatan Dharam in Fiji says Hinduism is monotheistic, and everyone should be able to practice their religion freely.

Hindus condemn Cooks Bishop’s Diwali comments

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad Fiji says comments by Cook Islands bishop, Tutai Pere, condemning Diwali celebrations held in the island nation are saddening.

VHP Fiji national president Jay Dayal said the bishop was forgetting the values of Christianity.

“At the same time, we in Fiji are fortunate and so ever thankful to our Government that Fiji is a secular nation that allows freedom of religious practices and personal beliefs bringing everyone together during their respective festivals,” Mr Dayal said.

“As a Christian, the bishop should learn to love his neighbours rather than enforce his imprudent personal beliefs on others that divide a society in a tiny island nation like the Cooks.”

Bishop Pere was on Radio Australia labelling Hindus as idol worshipers.

Mr Dayal said: “Diwali is a festival of light not idolatry or blasphemy against Christians as alleged by the Bishop Tutai Pere.

“He needs understanding with the significance of Diwali. Diwali celebrates the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, falsehood to truth and death to immortality.

From the comments by Tutai Pere Hindus now pray to the almighty God that the bishop be taken out of darkness of ignorance and falsehood and be exposed to light of wisdom and goodness.

“The Hindus always believe that all righteous paths lead to one Supreme God but Tutai Pere claims that Hindus would introduce a new God in Cook Islands – this is quite funny and displaying his sheer ignorance.

“It is evident from his sceptical reaction that Tutai Pere has missed out in being a spiritually enlightened soul and has still not risen above the personal religious differences while failing to understand the right of every human being to co-exist with their personal beliefs.”

Diwali was festively celebrated at the US Presidential White House by President Barack Obama with the First Lady.

The British Prime Minister David Cameron, accompanied by his wife Samantha, visited the Swaminarayan Mandir, the largest traditional Hindu temple outside India, in north-west London and celebrated Diwali.

The Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper marked Diwali with members of Canada’s South Asian community with crowds of hundreds in Mississauga, Toronto, Canada.

The Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor embraced Malaysian Hindus at the Batu Caves and celebrated Diwali as well.

Mr Dayal said: “As the leaders of some of the world’s great nations joined hands with Hindus to openly celebrate Diwali on the same token the comments and dim-witted protest by Tutai Pere, Bishop of the Apostolic Church of the Cook Islands is sad but insignificant and VHP can only suggest to him to seek knowledge of the divine and rise above religious fanaticism.”

Source : Dainik sanatan Prabhat, Radio Australia, FijiSun,