Babies Dropped in Sacred Ritual
Babies Cast Off Roof of Temple in India, in the Name of God
In the Indian Province of Maharashtra, the centuries-old ritual of dropping babies from a roof to ensure their longevity and health, is still being practiced.
A mother's worst nightmare, watching as her newborn baby is dropped from the roof of a building, its fall only to be broken by a white cotton sheet held by a slew of strangers. A nightmare, realized and regarded as a blessing in the Solapur district of India's Maharashtra province.
The centuries-old ritual takes place at a Muslim temple in the Musti village of Maharashtra, practiced by both Muslims and Hindus alike. If parents wish to have their baby "blessed" they must pray at the Baba Sheikh Umar Saheb Dargah temple, thanking God for the gift he has bestwoed upon them--- a healthy baby. The baby is then flung off the roof of the 50-foot temple.
The reasoning behind the ritual is to ensure a long and healthy life for the baby, something that most critics argue is ludicrous. "The state has to interfere," says Sanal Edamaruku, founder and president of the Indian Rationalist Association and Rationalist International, as reported by cnn.com.
The British news website, news.sky.com also reported on the incident and allowed readers to offer their feedback. In a surprising display of open-mindedness, the majority of them defended the practice, saying that the western world should be more open to foreign religious practices, and as one reader said, try not to "shove [our] sense of morality down their throats."
Jayashree, a mother whose baby participated in this ritual beleives that God blesses each child thrown from the roof of the Solapur temple. "If you do this, it is good for the child. They become healthy. It is to get the blessings of God," she said, as reported by news.sky.com.
Even with this acceptance, various critics view the ritual as extremely dangerous. The villagers claim that no babies have been harmed in its 500-year old history, however many critics are calling for its abolishment and feel as though it's just a matter of time before an accident occurs.
"One awkward throw, one faulty landing, that's all it will take to end an innocent baby's life. The ritual is not safe, throwing a baby off a roof to guarantee good health in the future? This cannot end well," says Kajari Mondal, enrolled in an Early Childhood Education program, she knows another way of ensuring a baby's sound mental development. "Exposing the baby to bright colours and making sure it eats good, nutritious food are some of the best ways to ensure the baby develops well."
It remains to be seen what action, if any, will be taken against the temple and its practitioners. In the mean time, according to news.sky.com's readers, many are praying in their own homes to ensure the safety of every baby--tossed from the roof.
