There’s an interesting article in the Washington Post about a Hindu family which drew rangoli on their driveway for their son’s thread ceremony, and was fined by the local homeowners association.
Is this a violation of religious freedom? I’m reluctant to have an opinion on this, because personally I’m not as attached to rangoli patterns as is the family in the article — so my views are skewed. Considering the trauma that the family claims it would have if forced to erase the pattern, it does seem that the homeowners association is being unreasonable. But on the other hand, the family did make an agreement when it moved into the residence, an agreement to which everyone in the association had to submit. So there is no particular discrimination here.
So although I think that the homeowners association is being unnecessarily contentious, I do not think it is violating the family’s religious freedom by asking them to erase the rangoli pattern.
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2 Comments
I agree, the Hindu family was definitely over dramatic about removing the rangoli – I cannot imagine that it would be the least be traumatizing.
At the same time, perhaps the Hindu family is just trying to make a point regarding the principle behind the fine. If people are allowed to hang up Christmas lights and decorations, why can’t the Hindu family also decorate their house for a religious occasion?
Conclusion – The family decided to stop pressing the issue, and painted over the rangoli.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/12/AR2008121203827.html
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