Panaji, Jul 14 (UNI) The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) has demanded ‘Vinson World’, the organisers of the Goa Marathi Film Festival, to withdraw screening of ‘Elizabeth Ekadashi’ directed by Paresh Mokashi, in the 8th Goa Marathi Film Festival in the state.      HJS said, "film glorifies the British, denigrates Hindu Deities and insult Saints. The Varkari sect and rituals like Ekadashi appear to have been ridiculed with a motive in the said movie."

      The objectionable part of the film ‘Elizabeth Ekadashi’, Dr Manoj Solank, State Convener, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti stated that - The word 'Ekadashi' is the tithi (eleventh day of the lunar month of Hindu Calendar) which is related to Hindu God Bhagwan Vishnu. In Hindu Dharma, there are 24 Ekadashis in a year; but by naming it as Elizabeth, the filmmaker has created a 25th 'Ekadashi' which is misleading and denigrating, thus, hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus.

      The poster of the film displays the cycle Elizabeth mounted on a brick which is akin to the depiction of Bhagvan Vitthal standing on the brick thrown by his devotee Pundalik and also shows Bhagwan Vitthal on cycle. "This is also distortion of the depiction and hurting of religious sentiments of Hindus," Solanki said. In the film Scientist Newton is called as 'Sant' (Saint) Newton which is again misleading and defamation of the term ‘Saint’. On the whole, it appears that people having no faith in God, not abiding by Dharma have distorted

history and Spirituality and have made the film presenting sensitive issues wrongly, said Solanki.

      Moreover, a scene of counting money donated by devotees visiting the temple in Pandharpur is repeated, attempting to show that people are donating money ‘unnecessarily to God made of stone’. Also in one more of the scenes, a prostitute is shown saying, "This year the wari was good." It is shown in the film that the ‘wari’ last year was not attended by many due to famine; thus affecting her business; but this year she made good money.

   The copies of this memorandum will be sent to the Goa Government’s Art and Culture department, Goa

Entertainment Society, Dr Solanki added.

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