Amid controversy in India on Sanatan, September 3 declared as ‘Sanatan Dharma Day’ in US city
A city in the US state of Kentucky has officially declared September 3 as ‘Sanatana Dharma Day’ even as a row has erupted in India with a minister from Tamil Nadu calling for its eradication.
It started after the statement given by Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin’s son Udhayanidhi on Sanatan, in which he compared Sanatan Dharma with dengue and malaria.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg recently attended a re-consecration ceremony at the Hindu Temple of Kentucky, where the official proclamation on September 3 was read by his deputy, Barbara Sexton Smith.
“I was honored to attend the Mahakumbh Abhishekam ceremony at the Hindu Temple. The rituals performed to renew and restore the temple hold great cultural importance. Our office has officially declared September 3rd as ‘Sanatana Dharma Day’,” Mayor Greenberg wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.
The event was attended by several spiritual leaders and dignitaries including Chidanand Saraswati, president of Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, and Bhagawati Saraswati along with Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman, deputy chief of staff Keisha Dorsey, among others.
“The re-consecration — or Mahakumbh Abhishekam — of the Hindu Temple of Kentucky was made more powerful and significant by Louisville Mayor’s proclamation of 3 September 2023 as Sanatana Dharma Day! A wonderful new chapter in the glorious saga of Indian culture!” Swami Chidanand Saraswati wrote on X.
Congratulating Louisville and responding to the Sanatana Dharma row in India, the US-based Hindu American Foundation wrote on X: “Excellent timing offering an apt response! Congratulations #Louisville!”
Previously, July 20 was declared as the ‘Encyclopedia of Hinduism’ day in Kentucky by former Louisville mayor Greg Fisher.
[With Inputs from IANS]
For all the latest updates, download PGurus App.
