Indian villagers are leaving garlands of flowers, offerings of rice and fruit, and saying prayers at a temple in Kendrapara, India. Within the temple is a turtle upon whose back is supposed to be markings signifying him (or her) as an incarnation of Lord Jagannath, one of the more popular of the many Hindu deities. As such, they feel that the best way to honor his new sea turtle avatar is to keep it locked up in defiance of Indian animal welfare laws.
Call me crazy, or just call me culturally ignorant, but it seems to me that the best way to please an all-powerful God isn’t to keep him locked up in some terrarium. Then again, the Indian people are pretty open about embracing odd religious symbols like the two-headed baby, so maybe this turtle’s back is covered in holy symbols, but I doubt it’s endearing them to said God to keep his turtle form caged. Turtles want to swim and be free; I’d imagine God turtles are no different.
Tags: villagers pray to turtle, turtle with holy symbols on its shell, Kendrapara, India, unusual religious customs, god turtle