Trident Re-opens.

[Zaheerkhan]

Image: The multi-religious prayer meeting at Hotel Trident.

Thank you for your support.

That is the simple card I got, tucked inside the leather folder, when I asked for my bill after a short lunch at Frangipani, one of Hotel Trident's famous restaurants. A questionnaire accompanied the card.

I signaled the waiter again and requested for my bill. The courteous sari-clad hostess came over and said, "Ma'am, it is on the house. Thank you for your support."

The Trident, one Mumbai's oldest hotels, reopened on Sunday after being shut for more than three weeks since 26/11, when it
was attacked by three Pakistani terrorists with guns and grenades. In the ensuing carnage, 22 guests and staffers had been killed.

Frangipani, the all-day continental cuisine banquet area that opens first, was serving its guests by 7 am. And though the
restaurant was nearly half full at lunch -- actor and rugby player Rahul Bose [Images] was entertaining a group of friends as were a number of the invited dignitaries -- Frangipani was functioning crisply as if it was an ordinary day. Service was probably
at its best as numerous staff members solicitously hovered around and managers came across to check if diners were happy with their meals.

At noon, Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan [Images] and Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, along with nearly 100 long-term patrons and guests, gathered at the lobby of the Trident for a special multi-faith prayer meeting organised by the hotel. The guests included dignitaries like Hemendra Kothari, chairman of DSP-Merrill Lynch and Anil Madhok, former general manager of Oberoi.



They were welcomed by P K S Bikki Oberoi, chairman and chief executive, East India Hotels. Each patron/ guest received a pink rose with a card that said: "Life is a challenge, meet it! Life is a dream, realise it! Life is a game, play it! Life is love, enjoy it" - Sathya Saibaba.

The second quote was from William [Images] Ellery Channing: "Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict."

A Parsi priest, a Buddhist monk, a Catholic priest, a Hindu pujari, a lady Jain priest, a maula, a rabbi and a Sikh priest chanted prayers for those who had died, those who were injured, those who had assisted/saved lives. They also prayed for the hotel, the city and the country.



A hymn incorporating all faiths was sung to the accompaniment of low table and harmonium. It was a solemn, emotional ceremony and the atmosphere was somber. Waiters, housekeepers and bell boys gathered on the stairs that connect Trident with the Oberoi, the passage through which the terrorists moved between both hotels.

The chief minister quietly came across to Oberoi, shaking hands and congratulating the hotel staff.

In a grim reminder to the terrible tragedy, Hotel Trident has put in a series of security barriers beyond the hotel doors.



Guests have to alight at road level, show an ID and then enter the hotel driveway. A large X-ray machine is in place for luggage and bag surveillance, supervised by security personnel and polite bell boys.



Another security arch and bag check is conducted at the doors, before a guest walks in.



Ranjit Singh and his doorman colleagues, in their high turbans and white uniforms, who once called for your car by microphone and ushered guests to their cars, are now reduced to cordially ushering guests into the security areas.

Rattan Keswani, president of Trident Hotels, had informed the media on Saturday, "About 100 of our rooms are booked from tomorrow." He clarified that 50 to 60 were Indian guests. Occupancy by business guests is usually lowest during Christmas and New Year, Keswani said, and added that the real test for the hotel would be the growth of occupancy levels in the first week of January, traditionally the beginning of the hotel's busiest season.



"I seek help from all of you (the media) to direct your efforts in portraying Mumbai and India as a safe destination. Fears of guests and the implications of travel advisories must be allayed aggressively. These only affect our citizens and our economic well being. We need you to help us get the travelers back," he had said.

"Our team performed its duty with valour and diligence at grave personal risk. It continues to work tirelessly to reopen Trident," he said.



The staff worked tirelessly for over three weeks to get the hotel back into the pristine condition it was in when it reopened today -- gleaming floors, shining marble and brass. Keswani said that the hotel staff wanted to make sure that no signs of the terror attack remained inside the hotel.

He added, "We must not forget the many unknown citizens of Mumbai who helped our colleagues with food, water and medicines through the events day and night. They were unknown angels who emerged from nowhere and faded away. I wish we could somehow thank them individually."



The Oberoi, Trident's sister hotel, has still not opened. Parts of it are boarded up. The main picture window that looks out onto the Arabian Sea has not yet been repaired. The hotel authorities could not offer a tentative date of re-opening.

Link:A solemn, emotional reopening for Hotel Trident

 

[Awesome]

Ok finally an Indian Muslim up there who can show his moral support without relinquishing his religion. I mean it wouldn't have been far fetched to assume that one of them would be going like "Ohmmmmmmm" with hands joined together as if worshipping the hotel itself!

 

[Flintlock]

Ok finally an Indian Muslim up there who can show his moral support without relinquishing his religion. I mean it wouldn't have been far fetched to assume that one of them would be going like "Ohmmmmmmm" with hands joined together as if worshipping the hotel itself!

Its called Syncretism. Its innate to Indian culture.

 

[Goodperson]

Ok finally an Indian Muslim up there who can show his moral support without relinquishing his religion. I mean it wouldn't have been far fetched to assume that one of them would be going like "Ohmmmmmmm" with hands joined together as if worshipping the hotel itself!

The thread is not about how one prays, Hotel does not differentiate between a Muslim or a Hindu or nationalities, Opening of the hotel was of emotional importance that's all.
Btw Ratan Tata, owner of the Taj Hotel chain is a Parsi.

This is the beauty of a Secular country.

All nationalities welcome: Trident hotel

Press Trust of India
Saturday, December 20, 2008 6:50 PM (Mumbai)

Trident Hotel, which reopens on Sunday less than a month after suffering terror attack, on Saturday said nationals of all countries were welcome as its guests and there was no instruction from Indian government to disallow Pakistanis as guests in the luxury establishment.

"Guests of all nationalities are welcome at our hotels. We would only follow notifications issued by the government of India. We have not received a notification from the government regarding Pakistani nationals," Trident President Rattan Keswani said in a statement.

"There are some reports in the media that Pakistani nationals are not allowed at hotels. We have not received a notification to that effect from the government of India," he said.

Oberoi-Trident were among the places that witnessed the brunt of the terror attack on November 26, which killed over 170 people.

Keswani's clarification came after there was some confusion about his utterances in Hindi during a press conference earlier in the day to a question on allowing Pakistani nationals.

NDTV.com: All nationalities welcome: Trident hotel

 

[Awesome]

Its called Syncretism. Its innate to Indian culture.

Relinquishing religion?

The tenets of the Indian culture that directly oppose Islam wouldn't be adopted. Like we see this fellow here not holding his hands joined, however since he wanted to show support, there is no harm in standing with the group. He did an Indian act, while the others are engaging in religious acts. Its good if their religion has no qualms about it, but Islam does.

 

[Flintlock]

Relinquishing religion?

The tenets of the Indian culture that directly oppose Islam wouldn't be adopted. Like we see this fellow here not holding his hands joined, however since he wanted to show support, there is no harm in standing with the group. He did an Indian act, while the others are engaging in religious acts. Its good if their religion has no qualms about it, but Islam does.

No, but imbibing non-essential practices from other faiths.

Syncretism consists of the attempt to reconcile disparate or contrary beliefs, often while melding practices of various schools of thought. The term may refer to attempts to merge and analogise several originally discrete traditions, especially in the theology and mythology of religion, and thus assert an underlying unity allowing for an inclusive approach to other faiths.

The group-prayer here would be considered a syncretic act.



Indian Sufi traditions are also excellent examples of syncretism.

 

[Awesome]

No, but imbibing non-essential practices from other faiths.

Syncretism consists of the attempt to reconcile disparate or contrary beliefs, often while melding practices of various schools of thought. The term may refer to attempts to merge and analogise several originally discrete traditions, especially in the theology and mythology of religion, and thus assert an underlying unity allowing for an inclusive approach to other faiths.

The group-prayer here would be considered a syncretic act.



Indian Sufi traditions are also excellent examples of syncretism.

The Sufi, song and dance cannot be mistaken for their abandonment of Islam. Sufis were rebels, not some sort of bridge between Islam and Hinduism.

They strove for freedom of speech, comparative to that period.

As I said, showing moral support to India is not a bad thing. But foregoing your beliefs is. Of late we've seen some very questionable behavior from Indian Muslims like Shahrukh Khan conducting mohrats and Pujas instead of a simplistic Quran-khani... They go out of their way in their appeasement of Hindus. So its refreshing to see one of these guys who can just stand with the group, and not go "Ohhhhhhhhhmmmmmm".

 

[Flintlock]

The Sufi, song and dance cannot be mistaken for their abandonment of Islam. Sufis were rebels, not some sort of bridge between Islam and Hinduism.

They strove for freedom of speech, comparative to that period.

As I said, showing moral support to India is not a bad thing. But foregoing your beliefs is. Of late we've seen some very questionable behavior from Indian Muslims like Shahrukh Khan conducting mohrats and Pujas instead of a simplistic Quran-khani... They go out of their way in their appeasement of Hindus. So its refreshing to see one of these guys who can just stand with the group, and not go "Ohhhhhhhhhmmmmmm".

Well clearly you don't know much about Indian sufi traditions. They are indeed a bridge between Islam and Hinduism.

Unfortunately, I'm quite sure that a large percentage of the muslim population would consider Sufis as unislamic.

You seem under the impression that Muslims in India have to adopt Hindu rituals to be accepted. That is not the case, but then you have to compromise somewhere in order to build an inclusive society. One can't consider their Hindu neighbours "kaffirs", treat them as inferiors for their religious beliefs, and expect communal harmony to prevail.

 

[linkinpark]

Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer Dargah and Shiridi Saibaba are some examples of Syncretism where both Muslims and Hindus follow them.

 

[slugger]

Ok finally an Indian Muslim up there who can show his moral support without relinquishing his religion. I mean it wouldn't have been far fetched to assume that one of them would be going like "Ohmmmmmmm" with hands joined together as if worshipping the hotel itself!

And there was also an Indian Jew who paid obeisance in a manner instructed in his religion. People of all religion did so in a manner instructed to them by their religious beliefs


Barrister Munshi found something threatening and conspiratorial about the reopening of the hotels

India threatens Pakistan as Mumbai hotels reopen
How can a person be like...never mind. his influence in this world is restricted to the Internet..thankfully

 

[Awesome]

Well clearly you don't know much about Indian sufi traditions. They are indeed a bridge between Islam and Hinduism.

Unfortunately, I'm quite sure that a large percentage of the muslim population would consider Sufis as unislamic.

You seem under the impression that Muslims in India have to adopt Hindu rituals to be accepted. That is not the case, but then you have to compromise somewhere in order to build an inclusive society. One can't consider their Hindu neighbours "kaffirs", treat them as inferiors for their religious beliefs, and expect communal harmony to prevail.

Clearly... What do you know?

Dude I'm well aware that Indians oft justify their singing and dancing to somehow being Hindu-like. In truth sufis promoted humanity and that sometimes included giving an equal chance to Hindus under the Muslim rulers.

 

[Flintlock]

Clearly... What do you know?

Dude I'm well aware that Indians oft justify their singing and dancing to somehow being Hindu-like. In truth sufis promoted humanity and that sometimes included giving an equal chance to Hindus under the Muslim rulers.

Do you know that large number of hindus pray at Dargahs and revere Sufi saints?

Do you know that some Indian Sufi rituals resemble Hindu rituals in the way they are conducted?

Do you know that the music of Sufis often refers to Hindu mythology and history?

Have you heard of Sai Baba?

Offering flowers:

Incense sticks/lamps:

As I said - syncretism.

 

[was]

The thread is not about how one prays, Hotel does not differentiate between a Muslim or a Hindu or nationalities, Opening of the hotel was of emotional importance that's all.
Btw Ratan Tata, owner of the Taj Hotel chain is a Parsi.

This is the beauty of a Secular country.

All nationalities welcome: Trident hotel

Press Trust of India
Saturday, December 20, 2008 6:50 PM (Mumbai)

Trident Hotel, which reopens on Sunday less than a month after suffering terror attack, on Saturday said nationals of all countries were welcome as its guests and there was no instruction from Indian government to disallow Pakistanis as guests in the luxury establishment.

"Guests of all nationalities are welcome at our hotels. We would only follow notifications issued by the government of India. We have not received a notification from the government regarding Pakistani nationals," Trident President Rattan Keswani said in a statement.

"There are some reports in the media that Pakistani nationals are not allowed at hotels. We have not received a notification to that effect from the government of India," he said.

Oberoi-Trident were among the places that witnessed the brunt of the terror attack on November 26, which killed over 170 people.

Keswani's clarification came after there was some confusion about his utterances in Hindi during a press conference earlier in the day to a question on allowing Pakistani nationals.

NDTV.com: All nationalities welcome: Trident hotel

ah thank you

i hope no pakistani will go there

 

[linkinpark]

ah thank you

i hope no pakistani will go there

The hotel will not collapse economically if Pakistanis don't go there .