Hindu’s deity Sri Ganesh trivialised in a play at Melbourne Festival !

Bhadrapad Krushna 12, Kaliyug Varsha 5113

A scene from ‘Ganesh versus the Third Reich’ play denigrating Sri Ganesh

Appeal to devout Hindus

‘Back to Back Theatre’ in Melbourne is going to perform a play titled ‘Ganesh versus the Third Reich’ from 29 September during the Melbourne Festival at Malthouse Melbourne. This play contains trivialisation of Sri Ganesh thereby denigrating the deity revered by billions of Hindus worldwide. This is nothing but the insult of Sri Ganesh and hence it is duty of all devout Hindus to protest lawfully against the organisers of the play so that they should stop such denigration through play. They should also apologise to all Hindus for hurting their religious sentiments.

Devout Hindus can directly send their comments/protest to the concerned authorities on the following link :
https://www.hindujagruti.org/news/12776.html#comments

Devout Hindus are protesting lawfully on following Contact details: Back to Back Theatre PO Box 1257 Geelong, Victoria Australia 3220 Telephone: +613 5221 2029 Fax: +613 5229 0525 Email : Bruce Gladwin – [email protected] Alice Nash – [email protected] Stacey Baldwin – [email protected] Alice Gerlach – [email protected] Malthouse Melbourne 113 Sturt Street Southbank Victoria 3006 Australia E-mail : [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Melbourne Festival – Organisers PO Box 10, Flinders Lane, Melbourne Vic 8009 Phone: +61 3 9662 4242; +61 3 9652 8626 Fax: +61 3 9663 4141 E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

Detailed News

Melbourne, Australia: Recently, Forum for Hindu Awakening, a non-profit Hindu organisation, received a complaint from a Hindu about a play “Ganesh versus the Third Reich.” The play by ‘Back to Back Theatre’ will be performed at Malthouse Theatre from 29 September 2011 during the Melbourne Festival. Upon further investigation, Forum for Hindu Awakening came across the website showing the picture of a man with elephant head in Sumo like dress and pose behind Hitler which is not in accordance to the Scriptural description. Portrayal of Sri Ganesh is contrary to the way Hindu Scriptures describe His form and is contrary to His form depicted in Hindu temples and shrines. It is highly objectionable to Hindu religious sentiments that the revered Deity is being used in the fictitious context.
 
Forum for Hindu Awakening has protested this denigration by writing to the Producer and Director of the play, Organisers of the Melbourne Festival that is showing this play and the management of the Malthouse Theatre where the play will be performed, requesting them to cancel the performance of this play.
 
When Back to Back Theatre was contacted about the denigration of Sri Ganesh in their play, its Executive Producer, Alice Nash has responded that they are going to have meeting next week with representatives from the Hindu Community Council, facilitated by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Representatives from Back to Back Theatre, Melbourne Festival, Malthouse Theatre and the Indian High Consul in Melbourne.
 
The Melbourne Festival organiser has also mentioned the meeting to take place and added, “We have every reason to expect that Melbourne audiences are looking forward to the production and will be able to judge it on its merits.” There is no response from the management of Malthouse Theatre.
 
Hindus in Melbourne and across Australia are protesting against the premiering of this play. Some proud Hindus from Melbourne have contacted government officials and the Multifaith advisory group. Forum for Hindu Awakening urges all organisations involved in the play to show sensitivity to Hindu religious sentiments and has appealed to the supporters of Hinduism to peacefully and lawfully protest to the organisers of the play.

Source: Press Release from FHA

 

E-mail communication with Back to back theater:

To: <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>
Subject: Denigration and trivialisation of Lord Ganesh | “GANESH VERSUS THE THIRD REICH”
 
|| Sree ||

Namaste Alice,

I came to know through a news article about your play involving one of the most revered deities in Hinduism Lord Ganesh. Accordingly I happened to go to your website to understand the nature of this play and I was disappointed to see the blatant trivialisation and denigration of Lord Ganesh, a deity who is revered by millions of Hindu’s worldwide.  Hindu’s have temples of Lord Ganesh for Lord Ganesh devotees, there is one in Victoria in The basin. I would request you to visit the temple and understand the sentiment and the kind of reverence Hindu’s hold towards Lord Ganesh. It will help creating some sensitiveness about Hindu beliefs and culture.
 
I do not oppose humour which is the intention behind your play, humour is an essential part of our life, but it can’t be at the expense of hurting the sentiments of others. This blatant trivialisation and denigration of Lord Ganesh is against the taste of multiculturalism and tolerance towards others spiritual practices and beliefs. I would sincerely request you to please stop this play from premiering in Melbourne festival and kindly apologise to the Hindu community in Victoria for hurting the sentiments of Hindus.
In anticipation of your favourable response.
 
With Kind regards,
Volunteer member,
Forum For Hindu Awakening.

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