Don't destroy the faith of the economically desperate Fragrance Street market vendors

THE situation at the Fragrance Street Market in Chatsworth, where Hindu stall owners are being asked by the eThekwini Municipality to remove a sacred puthu and stop performing simple non-invasive rituals, raises significant constitutional, cultural, and administrative concerns.

- PRADEEP RAMLALL

At a time when more than 40% of the population are unemployed and trying to eke out a living, it's painful to remove faith-based practices to survive economically in South Africa with its multitude of economic blunders. The practices and beliefs of the vendors are intrinsically linked to the daily activities and should not be prohibited. The sacred puthu is a manifestation that God is close to them and will provide the grace to sustain them in their daily struggles of life.

It is significant to note that Hindus consider human beings to be interconnected with nature and dependent on its forces. Hindus believe that human life is a microcosm of the universe and are part of a larger cosmic system.

A universal principle is that religion cannot be placed in a box, worshipping the divine can occur inside or outdoors; Muslim are allowed prayers to be conducted outdoors and other faiths have breakfast where all religious groups are invited.

Hinduism incorporates nature's 5 elements, like other religious groups in South Africa including the Shembe and African Zionist Churches groups.

For the Hindu, the reverence for nature, its flora and fauna are part of a teaching that inculcates a strong ethical emphasis on the importance of maintaining ecological balance and protecting the environment something so relevant in today's world, given the disastrous results that climate change is having in various parts of the world.