Hanuman as Santa? Red outfit irks many

After being called a Dalit, Muslim, Jain, Jat and tribal, Lord Hanuman is now being called Santa. Photographs of the Lord’s idol, wearing what's being perceived as Santa Claus robe, have rattled many on social media. The pictures, from Salanpur temple in Botad district, submit on social media confirmed the idol wearing pink garments. Similarities have been promptly drawn between Hanuman and Santa Claus, with a few questioning what function was once to be achieved via such an act.

There have been a number of vitriolic comments as neatly, with some of the critics asking the priests to forestall shaming Hindu faith, whilst some other saying that it might be no wonder if they dressed the idol in inexperienced robe and a skull cap on Eid. However, Salangpur Hanuman Temple head priest Kothari Viveksagar Swami termed the controversy baseless. He said, “Our temple is a centre for religion for devotees of Lord Hanuman. The said apparel in pink is in fact a set of woolen garments sent via our commit Dharam Patel from america. You can examine it with robe of Santa Claus. There isn't any resemblance between them. We dressed the idol of the Lord within the woolen garments as ‘Dhanurmas’ is on and there is also cold prevailing within the area. It is assumed that the lord is going to school within the morning. So he was once given pink woolen garments. Someone called it Santa glance and spread the misconception.

Those who have doubts should come to the temple and spot for themselves whether it is Santa Claus apparel or not.” Interestingly, after the controversy, the garments have been modified within the night. When asked about it, Viveksagar Swami said, “As a normal practice, we change the garments of the Lord thrice a day. It is not that we modified the garments after the controversy.”

Asked if any Hindu organisation had objected to the attire, Kothari said, “We don’t need to get into who spread the message. Whosoever has accomplished it, the message should not were misguiding.”

Hemant Bhatt, a city-based businessman who often is going to Salangpur, said, “I don’t mind if Lord Hanuman is given a Santa Claus glance as this is a tradition to have a good time various gala's with God. I saw the picture. I don’t suppose the idol looks as if Santa.”

Ashok Raval, common secretary of VHP Gujarat, said, “It's not that i am acutely aware of the problem. But if Hanumanji was once wearing Santa Claus robe, I think there's no wish to accomplish that. We have our own gala's to have a good time.”