Nationalist Hindu group the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is spreading its wings far and wide.

The right-wing social organisation has taken up the task of developing Cambodia as the fifth dhaam or pilgrim spot for Hindus.

An initiative in this direction has been taken by Shailesh Hiranandani, founder of SRam & Mram Ltd, in step with the campaign of the RSS.

Sram & Mram Group is a London-based conglomerate involved in the exports of agro-products from Cambodia to nearly 12 countries, according to its website.

The home of the holy Angkor Vat temple, Cambodia retains a strong influence of Indian Hindu and Buddhist rituals and traditions. The country is about 95% Buddhist.

"Adorned with Angkor Vat temple, Cambodia should be given the status and pride of becoming the fifth pilgrim place of Hindus," said Indresh Kumar, National Convenor at RSS.

Angkor Wat is the largest Hindu temple in the world, and one of the only dedicated to Indian god Brahma. And while Hinduism is no longer directly practiced in Cambodia, it influences Khmer Buddhist practices, such as weddings, funerals, and the use of astrology to find auspicious dates for important events.

The RSS wants to promote Hinduism in the South East Asian nation by bulding awareness among the Hindu nationals living in Cambodia about their heritage and values.

The organisation has also launched a worldwide campaign to garner support and create awareness about the importance of developing Cambodia as the fifth pilgrim spot. Hindus regard Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri and Rameswaram as the four main pilgrimage sites and visiting these sites help them achieve "moksha" or salvation.

This is not the first time that the RSS tried promoting Hinduism on a global scale.

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, last year, asserted that ancestors of all people of Indian origin - including 172 million Muslims - were Hindu.

First Published:Jun 7, 2018 10:11 AM IST