Hindu fundamentalists target New Year celebrations

The Hindu Jagaran Manch (Hindu awakening movement) has warned people participating in New Year celebrations of "punishment", the Asian Age newspaper reported.

In a statement the Hindu group said New Year celebrations were a totally Western concept alien to Hindu culture and a "systematic attempt by multinational companies to corrupt our youth".

"The New Year according to Hindu calender, does not begin on January 1 and it has never been part of our culture to usher in the new year with liquor, music and dance" the manch's spokesman Aravind Singh said.

The organization warned hotels and restaurants that the celebrations, if held at all, must be toned down to acceptable limits with no liquor or dancing.

The Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, the Hindu group from which Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's Bharatiya Janata Party draws its ideological inspiration, has already asked people not to welcome the "Christian New Year."

Meanwhile, activists of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and its youth wing Bajrang Dal in the western city of Ahmedabad Wednesday damaged a painting made by prominent Moslem artist Maqbool Fida Husain meant to promote his film Gaja Gamini.

The activists accused Husain of being anti-Hindu and of insulting Hindu gods.

(klei/dpa)