‘Sita Sings the Blues’ show in Starlight Pavilion in New York cancelled after protests !

Status of protest: Successful

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New York, USA: The 21st July showing of ‘Sita Sings the Blues’ in Starlight Pavilion has been cancelled after growing protests from the Hindu community, spearheaded by Patanjali Rambrich, an alert Hindu in New York. A spontaneous protest demonstration by temple devotees also had taken place at Durga Temple of Virginia last night, when a TV interview about the issue was recorded in front of the Rama-Sita shrine. Last week, Forum for Hindu Awakening had received several complaints about this showing to be held along with a panel discussion with the film’s producer Nina Paley. Hindus have found this animation film to be an extremely denigrating twist on their sacred epic ‘Ramayan’.

Given the organizer Rohan Narine’s initial non-response to Hindus’ protests, Forum for Hindu Awakening had to call for staging educative protests outside the venue and boycotting Starlight Pavilion. However, today, in an email, Rohan Narine has confirmed the cancellation of this event. It is learned from sources that this was due to Starlight Pavilion cancelling this event.

The ‘Ramayan’ was composed by Hindus’ revered Sage Valmiki. It is a narration of the exemplary life of Rama, who is worshipped by Hindus as the embodiment of perfection, while Rama’s wife Sita is worshipped as the ultimate symbol of chastity. Paley, claiming the film to be based on the ‘Ramayan’, has drawn irreverent parallels between her own heartbreak and Rama and Sita. Paley has in the past disregarded protests from thousands of Hindus worldwide, showing her insensitivity and malicious intent in making this film. Forum for Hindu Awakening is a nonprofit, tax exempt organization in USA, devoted to creating awareness about Hinduism and Hindu spirituality.

("Let us pay gratitude to God for this success ! It is a reminder of how prompt and united protests against denigration of Dharma bring success in stopping the denigration." – FHA Editor.)

An appeal to devout Hindus:

||Sree||

Namaste, dear supporter of Hinduism.

We have received complaints from several Hindus about the showing of a film 'Sita sings the blues' at the Starlight Pavilion in New York next Thursday (21st July). 'Sita sings the blues', which its producers claim to be based on Sage Valmiki's Ramayan, is actually a denigrating parody of the Ramayan ! Through this animation film, animator Nina Paley has shown irreverent parallels between her own heartbreak and the divine story of Lord Rama and Mother Sita, who have been worshipped for ages by Hindus as symbols of perfection and purity. Paley has not retracted the film, despite protests from 1000s of Hindus in the past. This itself shows her complete insensitivity to the Hindu sentiment and her malicious intent in making this film ! A Hindu sounding cast in the film does not condone the denigration either. You can learn more about this denigrating film at: http://forumforhinduawakening.org/articles/id/preserving/sita-sings-the-blues

In light of this, we have initiated a protest as in the below email trail. We appeal to you to join in this protest of the 'Sita sings the blues' showing at New York's Starlight Pavilion next Thursday at 5pm. Let us inundate the organizers and Starlight Pavilion with letters or phone calls, registering our peaceful, but prompt protests at :

Organizer: Rohan Narine (rohan.narine@elliman.com)
Starlight Paviliion Managing Director: Sharmin John, 718 - 850 – 1300 (sjohn@starlitepavilion.com)

(Please do cc or inform us of your protest, as we strive to keep you updated about the progress of this protest drive.)

"Dharmo rakshati rakshitaha | (Dharma or God protects those who protect Dharma !)"

Sincerely,
Sadhaks at Forum for Hindu Awakening (www.HinduAwakening.org)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Forum for Hindu Awakening . <info@forumforhinduawakening.org>
Date: Sat, Jul 16, 2011 at 9:29 PM
Subject: Requesting Starlight Pavilion to cancel showing denigrating 'Sita sings the blues'
To: sjohn@starlitepavilion.com
Cc: pravakta@hindujagruti.org
Namaste, dear Sharmin John.

We at the Forum for Hindu Awakening have received complaints from several Hindus about the showing of a film 'Sita sings the blues' at the Starlight Pavilion in New York next Thursday (21st July). We would like to bring to your attention that 'Sita sings the blues' denigrates Hindus' revered scripture Ramayan, and Deities Rama and Sita.

People from different faiths live in America and it is important to maintain sensitivity towards each other's religion, to live harmoniously. Denigration of religious symbols and icons causes disharmony, as it hurts the sentiments of the community being targetted. Hence, we have sent the below request to Rohan Narine, who has organized this event.

At the same time, we urge Starlight Pavilion to cancel the booking for this event, as a show of goodwill to the Hindu community in New York. We hope that you will show sensitivity towards the religious sentiments of their Hindu patrons. We hope to receive a positive response from Starlight Pavilion by Sunday. Otherwise, we would be forced to intensify our protests, by calling for a boycott of Starlight Pavilion, as well as organizing a protest demonstration in front of Starlight Pavilion.

Sincerely,
Bhavna Shinde
Spokesperson, Forum for Hindu Awakening
www.HinduAwakening.org

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Forum for Hindu Awakening . <info@forumforhinduawakening.org>
Date: Sat, Jul 16, 2011 at 5:33 PM
Subject: Request to cancel showing denigrating 'Sita sings the blues' at the Starlight Pavilion
To: rohan.narine@elliman.com
Cc: pravakta@hindujagruti.org, sjohn@starlitepavilion.com

Namaste, Rohan Narine

We have received complaints from several Hindus about your showing the film 'Sita sings the blues' at the Starlight Pavilion in New York next Thursday (21st July). We would like to bring to your attention that 'Sita sings the blues', which its producers claim to be based on Sage Valmiki's Ramayan, is actually a denigrating parody of the Ramayan ! Through this animation film, animator Nina Paley has drawn irreverent parallels between her own heartbreak and the divine story of Mother Sita, who has been worshipped for ages by Hindus as the symbol of purity and devotion.

Nina Paley has not retracted this film despite protests from thousands of Hindus worldwide. This itself shows her complete insensitivity to the Hindu sentiment and her malicious intention in making this film. A Hindu sounding cast like Aseem Chhabra does not in any way condone the blatant denigration committed in almost each scene of the film. You can read in detail about the denigration perpetrated by this movie at: http://forumforhinduawakening.org/articles/id/preserving/sita-sings-the-blues

What is your purpose of showing this film, when it has been so controversial for the insensitivity shown to Hindu sentiment ? Shall we say that you too, are supporting this denigration ? We urge you to cancel showing the film 'Sita sings the blues' at the Starlight Pavilion. We hope to receive your positive response by Sunday, after which, we will be forced to intensify our protests, by making it public, and calling for a boycott of Starlight Pavilion, as well as your future endeavors.

Sincerely,
Bhavna Shinde
Spokesperson, Forum for Hindu Awakening
www.HinduAwakening.org

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‘Sita Sings the Blues’ show in Starlight Pavilion in New York cancelled after protests !