Atheists' festival awaiting HC nod

[rug]

A. Subramani, TNN | Aug 31, 2013, 02.05 PM IST

CHENNAI: Can Chennai be the venue of an 'atheists festival' to be hosted by a self-proclaimed organization of rationalists and atheists?

This question will be decided by a division bench of the Madras high court, which held a special hearing on Saturday, at the instance of the Dradidar Viduthalai Iyakkam (DVI). The bench comprising Justice V Dhanapalan and Justice M Duraiswamy finished hearing the arguments of the Tamil Nadu advocate-general A L Somayaji and DVI advocate N G R Prasad. The judges are likely to pass orders by this evening.

The organization was denied permission by the Chennai city police to take out a rally through main roads and also conduct an atheist festival which had on menu events such as walking on burning coal and piercing sharp objects through cheek and tongue.

An application seeking police permission to hold the event on September 1 or any other subsequent date was submitted to the commissioner of police on August 14, said Prasad. Noting that the festival was designed to dispel blind beliefs and not against religious beliefs, Prasad said it had planned to disseminate awareness among the public.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Atheists-festival-awaiting-HC-nod/articleshow/22182704.cms

[cbayer]

1. Walking on burning coals and piercing cheeks and tongues?

These are some kind of atheist rituals in India?

[rug]

2. A big part of the skeptic movement in India is debunking fakirs.

The article doesn't discuss it but it might be that.

[cbayer]

3. That would make sense.

Apparently the concern is that the event is going to cause conflict. If it is their intention to mock, rather than educate and celebrate, I can see why that might be a concern.