Hindu ritual at Shillong airport annoys TMC

SHILLONG, Aug 6: A war of words erupted between a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and the Shillong Airport authorities over a ritual of a community at the airport.
The national spokesperson of TMC, Saket Gokhale questioned the Shillong Airport for recently performing ‘Rudrabhishekam’ at the airport when it was not even native to the state.
The ritual of showering water and other special ingredients on a deity is called ‘abhishek’ or ‘abhishekam’. The one performed for Lord Shiva, also hailed as Rudra, is called Rudrabhishek or Rudrabhishekam.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) from its Shillong Airport handle recently tweeted about the ritual, saying it was performed at the airport for its development and progress.
“It’s a belief that during this month, Lord Shiva fulfils the desire if Rudrabhishekam is performed,” the tweet from AAI Shillong Airport read.
In a tweet, Gokhale asked Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia why the Shillong Airport performed the religious rituals of one community at an airport when it was not even native to the state.
He also pointed out that 75% of the population in Meghalaya follows Christianity while the non-Christian indigenous tribes do not follow Hindu rituals such as Rudrabhishekam.
Replying to the tweet, the Shillong Airport said that it supports all faiths, beliefs and religions.
“We celebrate Christmas also with full zeal and enthusiasm. Rudrabhishekam was performed to pray for the development and progress of the Shillong Airport and the well-being of the people, it said.