I’ve recently learned that India, which as I discovered on a recent visit has far more atheists than I thought, also has its own mock religion along the lines of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. It’s called “Dinkoism,” and is based on elevating a fictional character, Dinkan, to supernatural status. Dinkan happens to be a mouse, and. . . .well, let the video tell you. (Trigger warning: there’s one Hindu anti-Dinkoist.):
Here’s the skinny on Dinkan and Dinkoism, taken from Wikipedia (note: somebody go in there and clean up the writing!):
Dinkan was originally published in the Balamangalam childrens’ magazine of Kerala in India. Later Nambolan, another superhero character was introduced to Balamangalam and it too became very popular. From later 1990’s, Balamangalam suffered from high competition from other children’s publications in Malayalam. The magazine still had a strong market share and they expanded out with a kindergarten kids magazine Kalicheppu and a comics book Balamangalam – Chitrakatha. But Dinkan continued to be Balamangalam’s most popular comics series
. . . Dinkan was born in Pankila forest, somewhere in Kerala, India. He was a naughty mouse, who wasn’t disciplined. During one of his escapades, Dinkan was abducted by aliens from an unknown planet. They conducted experiments on him which ended up giving him superior strength, enhanced senses and the ability to fly. Somehow Dinkan found himself back in Pankila forest and he decided to use his powers for the well-being of animals in the forest.
Sounds a bit like the theology of Scientology, no?
. . . Dinkoism has emerged as a parody religion on social networks organized by independent social welfare groups in Kerala, India. This religion celebrates Dinkan as their God in an attempt to bring awareness of the fallacies and practices of traditional religions. Dinkoists sarcastically get offended by any reference questioning the divinity of Dinkan or their ‘Holy Book’ Balamangalam.
Dinkoism is spreading!:
More from Wikipedia:
The backstory and professed ideology of Dinkoism has grown organically over the years. Supposed verses are quoted on the fly with fake passages to a non-existing holy book.
Most people found it very attractive since it has nothing to do in day to day life. It is described in its scripture that this faith is strictly restricted to ones home and will be punished after death if brings it into public life out from the home.
Like traditional religions Dinkoists also lay claim to various miracles of Dinkan in the form of writings and signs of Dinkan in food items, cow markings, vegetables and clouds.
. . . Dinkoists believe in ‘The Big Laugh Theory’ according to which the whole universe was created from ‘the Big Laugh’ of Lord Dinkan. Dinkan’s devotees get easily offended if anyone makes fun of their holy book ‘Balamangalam’. Most of the Dinkan devotees are in Trivandrum, Kozhikode and Kochi. Dinkoists of Kozhikode organized a conference at the Sports Council Hall, Mananchira on 20th March, 2016.
In this engrossing video, a Rodential Acolyte explains more about Dinkoism. Do watch it:
Get yourself a tee-shirt (but only if you’re in India); click on the screenshot to order:
Dinkan also has a Twi**er page, but it’s mostly in Malayalam, the language of Kerala. The Facebook page for the Holy Dinkan Religion, howevr, is in English, and has this recent entry, guaranteed to offend over a billion people:
h/t: Clive
I positively luv it!
A link to the video is a fine ending line to Loftus’ OTF.
Excellent
Remember that the Earth was built to help the mice find the answer to the ultimate question.
Do we get to wear cool hats like Packers fans?
I was ready to convert, alas I am lactose intolerant.
Cheesemaking converts lactose to the tolerable lactic acid, so you too can convert!
/pedantry
Actually…a fair number of those who think they’re lactose-intolerant can tolerate lactose just fine…but are allergic to casein, the main protein in milk products. That cheese itself is mostly made of. Terrible curse….
b&
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Hate to break it to the Dinkoists…but Hili already met Dinkan. And ated him.
b&
You haven’t told the rest of the story…the next day when the women came to clean the litter tray they found it gone! Sad and bewildered they returned to join the others and…well, there are various versions but you get the gist.
Nah…just means it’s a self-emptying litterbox. I’ve got one of those for Baihu…amazing and miraculous, but it’s “merely” technology.
b&
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I keep thinking that Mighty Mouse should sue.
Despite the received wisdom about mice and cheese, I don’t think they actually like the stuff. This was confirmed by my pest control officer. Baiting traps with peanut butter or choc spread, instead of cheese, got rapid results. P.s. I will tackle the Wiki article.
If humans forgot all of their religions, but still had their foibles of fooling themselves, they would certainly re-invent religion it on the spot. But in this new pantheon of delusions there would be no Christianity, no Islam, etc.
Perhaps a society would come to worship mice.
I’m sorry but this is offensive to the Flying Spaghetti Monster, who is clearly the creator of all things.
Fancy worshipping a rodent!
I find both religions compatible. After all, it is common practice to put cheese on spaghetti.
Cheesus, but that is good!
Yeah, I thought it was Christians that loved cheeses. I was wrong eh?
Here in New Zealand the Department of Internal Affairs has approved the Church of the Flying Spaghetti’s first marriage celebrant – or “ministeroni”. The first marriage took place in Akaroa a week or so back I believe. As a news report stated: “The church says the Wellington-based celebrant is able to travel and perform ceremonies anywhere in New Zealand, putting penne to paper for the official marriage registration documents.”
Pasta be unto him…
It is good to see that cheese is the favoured food of the Lord Dinkin – but methinks this leaves considerable room for future schisms – very grating for true believers.
Wow, religion never made much sense before, but once you get a logical explanation it all becomes clear.
I believe in the God of Parking Spaces–if I have made the proper propitiations and follow his commandments, I will find a parking space within 100 ft of the door of Walmart However, he is a fickle and capricious god and his rules are obscure. Today, he made me walk a hundred yards for some transgression I didn’t know I committed
Love it. I hope he succeeds in overwhelming the world with his influence. Savior of mankind.
Looks like someone saw an old “Mighty Mouse” cartoon….don’t worry; when the Hindu fundamentalists get full control, they’ll soon abolish this heresy!
“Dinkoists of Kozhikode”
It sings doesn’t it?
I want that tee shirt!! Maybe Amazon.in will ship to the US.
Blessed are the Cheesemakers.
(Sorry, someone had to say it).
Does Dinkan never shut his mouth? Or are we looking at really, really cheap animation and drawing here?
HEY!
I,ve signed up, All Hail Dinkan.
A freedom I want for everyone is the freedom to be silly (and serious) like this.