Hindus laud Wales’ Conwy Council for not instituting fine for feeding seagulls

Hindus have commended Conwy County Borough Council in North Wales (United Kingdom) for reported shelving of plan to fine people for feeding seagulls.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, welcomed the Conwy Council decision saying that it showed respect to the religious sentiments of some communities.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out that feeding birds was intrinsic to Hinduism and many started their day by feeding them. It was an act of kindness.

Rajan Zed further said that birds played an important role in Hinduism and several Hindu deities had birds as their vahana (mount, vehicle): peacock is the vahana of Karttikeya, owl of Lakshmi, swan of Brahma, garuda of Vishnu, etc. Jatayu was an ally of Rama who attempted to foil abduction of Sita. Ancient Shvetashvatara Upanishad identified Self with bird: He is the blue bird, he is the green bird.

Zed urged other counties, cities and town in Wales also to follow Conwy County’s lead and refrain from legislating penalties for feeding birds. Zed also urged Swansea Council and other seaside resorts to reconsider their fines for feeding the birds.

Hinduism is the oldest and third largest religions of the world with about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal.

Liz Roberts is Conwy County Borough Council’s Chair while Iwan Davies is County’s Chief Executive.