Hindus are upset at reported shooting of pornographic pictures at Angkor Archaeological Park in Cambodia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,
Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, called it highly inappropriate and trivialization of Hindu deities whose temples formed part of the Park.
We worship our deities and shooting of topless pictures of a woman near temples of Hindu deities for mercantile greed or other selfish agenda is hurtful to devotees, Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, points out.
UNESCO and Cambodia should do a better job safeguarding such a major site as Angkor, Rajan Zed indicated.
Zed further said that more needed to be done to preserve the Angkor temple complex and its surroundings and deteriorating bas-reliefs; save it from vandalism and looting; put some controls on unchecked tourism; check the demand for water table which could undermine the stability of sandy soils under the temples.
Rajan Zed also urged UNESCO World Heritage Convention, Cambodia and other world governments to provide more funding for the upkeep of the temple complex and spend more than half the ticket revenue on the temples.
Angkor Archaeological Park contains magnificent remains of over 1000 temples going back to ninth century, spread over about 400 square kilometers, and reportedly receives millions of visitors annually.