Tantra Retreat Poster in Kashmir's Gurez Valley Sparks Controversy
· India · Indian Express, The Hindu
A promotional poster for a four-day Tantra in Silence meditation retreat in Kashmir's Gurez Valley has sparked political and religious controversy. Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq have called for a ban on the event, which is scheduled from September 24 to September 27 in Bandipore district. The retreat is facilitated by Swami Dhyan Sumit, associated with the Shree Rajneesh Foundation. Mufti urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Jammu and Kashmir Police to intervene immediately, noting that a similar event was cancelled in Goa last year following public outcry over obscene promotional material. Mirwaiz also asked the Chief Minister to take note of the event and halt what he termed commercial exploitation of the region.
Why it matters
Regional political and religious leaders are pushing for government intervention to halt spiritual tourism events that they argue compromise local cultural sensitivities in sensitive border areas.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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