This article made my day, seriously, its one of the funniest pieces of news I've ever read:
On 3 March 2008, in a popular TV show, Sanal Edamaruku, the president of Rationalist International, challenged India's most "powerful" tantrik (black magician) to demonstrate his powers on him. That was the beginning of an unprecedented experiment. After all his chanting of mantra (magic words) and ceremonies of tantra failed, the tantrik decided to kill Sanal Edamaruku with the "ultimate destruction ceremony" on live TV. Sanal Edamaruku agreed and sat in the altar of the black magic ritual. India TV observed skyrocketing viewership rates.
....Now the tantrik wrote Sanal's name on a sheet of paper, tore it into small pieces, dipped them into a pot with boiling butter oil and threw them dramatically into the flames. Nothing happened. Singing and singing, he sprinkled water on Sanal, mopped a bunch of peacock feathers over his head, threw mustard seed into the fire and other outlandish things more. Sanal smiled, nothing happened, and time was running out
Fuckin' hilarious. Sanal, whoever he is, is my new hero. Call these charlatan wankers out.
EDIT: Doh! forgot to link to the actual article, thanks maatc
http://www.rationalistinternational.net/article/2008/20080310/en_1.html
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http://www.rationalistinternational.net/article/2008/20080310/en_1.html
The majority is ignorant and uneducated, I read a Harpers article were one girls devotion drove her to marry a snake believing it was a reincarnation of a god due to some old witch deeming it so.
The lower classes use this all for hope, the upper classes like it because it lets them control the lower classes easier. India is still living according to the caste system.
Heres hoping stuff like this changes that.