Kolkata: As voters, election officials and security forces occupied a 117-year-old Buddhist monastery in Kolkata which was turned into a polling booth, monks there were forced to cancel their daily prayers and other religious activities.
The authorities of the Bauddha Dharmankur Sabha had complained to the Election Commission for enlisting the name of the small school, located inside the premises of the monastery, as a polling booth, but in vain.
"We have prayers twice daily - morning and evening. Both had to be cancelled because the atmosphere inside the monastery was no more conducive for prayers," Hemendu Bikash Chowdhury, general secretary of the monastery in Bowbazar in Kolkata, told PTI.
He said other religious activities were also cancelled as a result.
Bauddha Dharmankur Sabha, also known as the Bengal Buddhist Association, was founded in 1892 by Kripasaran Mahasthavir. It now has branches in Shillong, Darjeeling, Lucknow, Sarnath and Rajgir.
Following Theravada, the oldest surviving branch of Buddhism, there are nine monks inside the Kolkata monastery.
"They shouldn't allow polling inside a monastery as they don't do it inside temples, mosques or churches. We are peaceful people and a minority, but our religious rights should not be infringed upon," the monks said.
The monks also expressed disappointment over the Election Commission's demand to keep the monastery free on May 14, to hold repoll, if necessary.
May 14 is Buddha Purnima, and the monastery authorities said they might now be forced to cancel celebrations on that day.
The authorities of the Bauddha Dharmankur Sabha had complained to the Election Commission for enlisting the name of the small school, located inside the premises of the monastery, as a polling booth, but in vain.
"We have prayers twice daily - morning and evening. Both had to be cancelled because the atmosphere inside the monastery was no more conducive for prayers," Hemendu Bikash Chowdhury, general secretary of the monastery in Bowbazar in Kolkata, told PTI.
Bauddha Dharmankur Sabha, also known as the Bengal Buddhist Association, was founded in 1892 by Kripasaran Mahasthavir. It now has branches in Shillong, Darjeeling, Lucknow, Sarnath and Rajgir.
Advertisement
"They shouldn't allow polling inside a monastery as they don't do it inside temples, mosques or churches. We are peaceful people and a minority, but our religious rights should not be infringed upon," the monks said.
Advertisement
May 14 is Buddha Purnima, and the monastery authorities said they might now be forced to cancel celebrations on that day.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
India vs Sri Lanka Squad 4 Takeaways: Hardik Pandya Snubbed From Leadership Group, Big Stars Ignored And More Biden Cancels Another $1.2 Billion In Student Debt As Vote Nears AAP To Fight Haryana Polls Solo, Will Contest All 90 Assembly Seats Barack Obama Wants Joe Biden To Pull Out Of US Presidential Race: Report World's Largest Isolated Tribe Makes Rare Appearance In New Footage 32 Dead In Bangladesh Unrest, Protesters Set Fire To State TV Headquarters Comedy Legend Bob Newhart Dead At 94: Publicist Israeli Strike Kills Field Commander In Elite Hezbollah Unit: Report Delhi-San Francisco Air India Flight Diverted To Russia After Engine Glitch Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.