Controversial Hindu Temple Float Sparks Debate in NYC India Day Parade

A Hindu temple float planned for the India Day Parade in New York City has ignited controversy. Critics, including several U.S.-based organizations, argue the float is anti-Muslim, as it celebrates a temple built on a disputed site in Ayodhya, where a mosque was razed in 1992. Supporters claim it represents religious and cultural diversity.

A Hindu temple float planned for New York City's India Day Parade has sparked significant controversy, with several groups labeling it as anti-Muslim and calling for its removal from the event.

The float, depicting a temple to the Hindu god Lord Ram, has gained attention due to its association with a highly contested site in Ayodhya, India. The site, consecrated earlier in 2023, has a tumultuous history involving the demolition of a mosque by a fundamentalist Hindu mob in the early 1990s. Critics argue that the float glorifies this act, leading to protests and calls for its removal.

Among the organizations voicing their concerns are the Council on American-Islamic Relations and Hindus for Human Rights. They assert that the float conflates Hindu nationalist ideology with Indian identity, clashing with India's secular values. In contrast, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America defends the float, claiming it honors a significant deity and place of worship. New York City Mayor Eric Adams emphasized the importance of free speech, while also condemning any promotion of hate.

The debate underscores wider concerns about religious tensions and diversity representation in public events. With India's rising attacks on minorities under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration, the issue has taken on added significance ahead of the annual parade.

(With inputs from agencies.)