பம்பாய் சித்திவினாயகர் கோவிலில் வெடிகுண்டு பயம்

சித்திவினாயகர் கோவிலில் தேங்காய் உருவிலும் மாலை உருவிலும் வெடிகுண்டுகள் வரலாம் என்று வந்த கடிதத்தின் பேரில் தேங்காய் மாலை ஆகியவற்றை எடுத்துவர வேண்டாம் என்று சித்தி வினாயகர் கோவில் நிர்வாகம் தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

நன்றி என் டி டி வி

Security tightened at Siddhivinayak temple
NDTV Correspondent
Monday, June 18, 2007 (Mumbai)
The Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai has stopped allowing devotees to bring in big garlands and coconuts from Monday.

This, sources at the temple say, is based on Israeli intelligence advice given to Indian agencies.

The Israelis have apparently told Indian authorities that terrorists may use garlands and coconuts in their attacks on Hindu shrines.

The advice is not specific to Siddhivinayak and the temple has decided to do it on its own accord.

''The Dadar police sent us a letter about this threat. We told devotees and vendors to implement these measures,'' said Uday Pratap Singh, Trustee, Siddhivinayak Temple Trust.

The trust has built bomb proof walls, installed CCTVs and even put up netting to catch hand grenades lobbed across the wall.

Given that over 10,000 coconuts pass through the temple doors each day temple authorities say it's practically impossible to check every one of them.

For devotees, the coconut is an essential part of every Hindu ritual.

''It is a question of faith they must allow coconuts, garlands,'' said a devotee.

''Without them our entire prayer is incomplete,'' added another devotee.

There was a time when people walked in and walked out of the Siddhivinayak temple without any fear.

But today even the apparently harmless and simple coconut has become an object of suspicion for security agencies. It is a sad reality and reflection of the insecure times we live in today.