BHUBANESWAR, India : Hundreds of poor Hindu villagers in eastern India have refused to hand over a rare turtle to authorities, saying it is an incarnation of God, officials said on Tuesday.

Villagers chanting hymns and carrying garlands, bowls of rice and fruits are pouring in from remote villages to a temple in Kendrapara, a coastal district in eastern Orissa state.

Policemen have struggled to control the gathering and have failed to persuade the villagers to give up the sea turtle.

"We have asked the villagers to hand it over as it is illegal to confine a turtle, but they are refusing," said P.K. Behera, a senior government wildlife official.

The turtle is protected in India and anyone found keeping one without permission can be jailed for a year or more and fined.

But adamant villagers have refused to give up the reptile, saying the turtle bears holy symbols on its back and is an incarnation of Lord Jagannath, a popular Hindu deity.

"Lord Jagannath has visited our village in the form of a turtle. We will not allow anybody to take the turtle away," said Ramesh Mishra, a priest of the temple.
Villagers confine rare turtle, offer prayers,11/11/2009 8:11:59 PM

Question.. If you're reborn as an animal, isn't that a BAD thing in Hinduism? Now their god is reborn as an animal?

I guess but not sure and neither I am trying to make fun of it, it depends on what kinda animal u become in your next janam. You can become an eagle or a hyena for example, depending on your deeds in the previous life.

On a side note though, I hope Raj Thackrey, Uddav Thackrey and Narendra Modi are reborn in the forms of female donkeys... cuz they all believe in size matters.

On the other hand, i never really understand the amount of illiteracy the villagers possess

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Why are we given a signature option when we cannot put ANYTHING in it :rolleyes: PENDUS!