USA: Sunnyvale temple to relay Cricket World Cup on big screen !

Read Here : Detrimental effects of Cricket on India and Hindu Dharma !

Recently, an email was circulated by Sunnyvale Temple, a famous temple in USA that they are offering the relay of live telecast of Cricket World Cup 2011 at the Temple Community Hall on a big screen. They screened the India-Pakistan match which was played on 30th March 2011. Now they will screen the India-Sri Lanka match, which is final match of the Cricket World Cup 2011.

Some devotees who received the email have protested that temple funds are being used towards such recreational activities. There is also talk among the devotees whether this is how devotees’ donations are spent by the temple ?

It is painful to see that Sunnyvale Temple, one of the biggest Hindu Temples in USA is screening Cricket matches. A Hindu temple should ideally only conduct programs related to welfare of the Hindu community and society, such as on Dharma education. It is a well known fact that Cricket has detrimental effects on youth, economy and people of India. How can a temple indulge in such activities when Hindu Dharma and the Hindu community is facing threats from all sides ?

Devout Hindus are protesting lawfully on following email : [email protected]

Here is the email circulated by the temple –

From: The Sunnyvale Temple <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: Relay of Cricket World Cup 2011 – SEMI-FINAL.
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2011 15:45:37 -0700

Dear Devotees Namaskar

We are very pleased to arrange the RELAY of live telecast of CRICKET matches from Cricket World Cup 2011 at the Temple Community Hall on BIG SCREEN. All matched played against India will be shown. We will try to make it very pleasant by providing heating, tea and light snacks. So do come in a large number & enjoy. The admission will be FREE to all devotees.

The next scheduled match is SEMI-FINAL as under:

    DAY                  DATE         IST*     SF Time      VENUE            Against
Wednesday    30-Mar-11   14:30    02:00AM     Chandigarh     Pakistan

* IST = Indian Std time (+12.5 DST). Note that match is on TUESDAY night.

The Final will ALSO be shown (hopefully) if India is playing.

May God bless you all and your family,
http://www.sunnyvaletemple.org

Protest email by a devout Hindu

From: Jitendra
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Relay of Cricket World Cup 2011 – SEMI-FANAL.
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:35:47 -0700

What is this madness with cricket? When the temples should be promoting Spirituality and Sattvik living, they are becoming places of material enjoyment. Where are we going to get the knowledge about the Sanatan Hindu Dharma, and its spiritual traditions. No wonder other religions like Christianity and Islam are taking advantage of the situation, and were successful in converting Hindus to there religions (because of Hindus lack of Dharma education, and the temples busy promoting cricket and dance competitions…).

Apologies for the rant, but we should really think about what should be promoted in temples.

Warm regards,
Jitendra

Other Protest E-mails by devout Hindus

1) From Mr. Chidanand, a devout Hindu

From: chidanand badatya
Date: Sun, Apr 3, 2011 at 12:58 PM
Subject: USA: Sunnyvale temple to relay Cricket World Cup on big screen !
To: [email protected]

Gurgaon, Bharat

2) From Mr. Bopanna, a devout Hindu

From: robin bopana
Date: Sun, Apr 3, 2011 at 1:40 PM
Subject: REQUEST TO STOP DISPLAY OF CRICKET MATCH IN YOUR TEMPLE PREMISES
To: [email protected]

Namaste,

SUB:REQUEST TO STOP DISPLAY OF CRICKET MATCH IN YOUR TEMPLE PREMISES

I was deeply hurt by reading the news report in Hindu Jagruti .Org that you had organised a cricket screen for the devotees/ public/ Indians to watch the match.

Kindly note that irrespective of country the devotees contribute to the temple so that, temple funds can be utilized for the spread of Dharma.

If some youth/cricket fans are craving for such a thing it is for the others to make them realize their folly or ask them to make arrangements elsewhere at their own cost.

I request you to kindly recover the cost from those who arranged the show and also see to it that no such show is repeated.

3) Protest letter by Mr. Srinivas

From: Mr. Srinivas
To: [email protected]
Subject: Protest letter for showing the Cricket match in Sunnyvale temple
Date: Thu, 7 Apr 2011 13:59:03 +0000

||Sree||

Namaskar To Sunnyvale temple management

You don’t have right to spend the public donation for entertainment purpose like the Cricket. The temples are meant to support Dharmik activities for spiritual progress, people visit there to offer prayers. Did you see this happening with other religious centers Churches, Mosques, Gurudwaras, Synagogues. This clearly shows that we are lacking Dharma education and guidance. Please for god sake forgo your ego and send out the apology to all the devotees. This will inspire other temples in USA to follow.

Gratitude,
Srinivas