Kolkata: When it comes to encroaching on the entrance to places of worship, hawkers in Kolkata do not discriminate against any group. Be it a church, a mosque, a gurdwara, a temple or a synagogue, shrines across all religions in the city are grappling with the same problem, that of vendors taking over nearby space and blocking visitors’ way.
Not only do devotees have to jostle their way through shops and crowded pavements, the management of the shrines also faces difficulty arranging for ceremonies.Complaints to authorities have yielded no result. Instead, some have spread out their fares more and some have been found dumping the goods in front of the gates.
TOI, while making the rounds of some of the places of worship in the central business district, found that one had to wade through a sea of people and goods—stuffed toys, utensils, grass brooms, you name it—to reach Portuguese Church at the crossing of Canning Street and Brabourne Road. Hawkers had even laid out their fares in front of the main gate of the church, also known as the Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary. “On special occasions, like Christmas, we make requests and the main gate is cleared for a couple of days,” said a representative of the church.
Vendors have surrounded Beth El Synagogue on Pollock Street in such a way that someone who doesn’t know is bound to miss the place.
Similar is the scene outside Lord Jishu Church on Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road, Sacred Heart and Thoburn Methodist churches on…
Not only do devotees have to jostle their way through shops and crowded pavements, the management of the shrines also faces difficulty arranging for ceremonies.Complaints to authorities have yielded no result. Instead, some have spread out their fares more and some have been found dumping the goods in front of the gates.
TOI, while making the rounds of some of the places of worship in the central business district, found that one had to wade through a sea of people and goods—stuffed toys, utensils, grass brooms, you name it—to reach Portuguese Church at the crossing of Canning Street and Brabourne Road. Hawkers had even laid out their fares in front of the main gate of the church, also known as the Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary. “On special occasions, like Christmas, we make requests and the main gate is cleared for a couple of days,” said a representative of the church.
Vendors have surrounded Beth El Synagogue on Pollock Street in such a way that someone who doesn’t know is bound to miss the place.
Similar is the scene outside Lord Jishu Church on Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road, Sacred Heart and Thoburn Methodist churches on…
Original Author Link click here to read complete story..