Karnataka says no to immediate ban on bizarre ritual
February 3rd, 2012 - 9:28 pm ICT by IANS
Bangalore, Feb 3 (IANS) Karnataka’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government Friday said while it opposed a ritual in which people rolled over the leftovers of meals eaten by Brahmins at a few temples in the state, it did not favour an immediate ban.
“It is a matter of belief and cannot be forcibly banned. We are making efforts to educate people against it,” Religious Endowments Minister V.S. Acharya told the state assembly.
He said the government’s move to stop it this time too was opposed by those who wanted to undertake the ritual, which they believe has been in practice for around 500 years.
The ritual, denounced by many as “obnoxious” and “anti-Dalit”, involves rolling over plantain leaves with leftovers of meals eaten by Brahmins, either as fulfillment of a vow or in the belief that it cures skin ailments.
The ritual takes place once a year during the three-day Champa Sashti festival in late November or early December at a temple devoted to Hindu god Subramanya at Kukke, a small town in western Ghats, about 350 km from here. It is also in vogue at one or two temples in nearby Udupi.
State BJP chief K.S. Eshwarappa said the party also opposed the practice and asserted that “Hindu society will not accept it”.
His assertion came in the backdrop of accusation by those opposed to the ritual that BJP was reluctant to ban it.
- Karnataka banks on education to end bizarre ritual - Dec 15, 2011
- Now a bizarre temple tradition trips Karnataka government (Karnataka Newsletter) - Dec 09, 2011
- Karnataka may ban bizarre tradition at temples - Dec 06, 2011
- Mayawati flays 'anti-Dalit' temple ritual in Karnataka - Dec 12, 2010
- Karnataka temple's weird ritual draws protests - Dec 12, 2010
- Devotees practice body piercing during Kerala festival - Mar 12, 2011
- Fun and fervour mark Vishu in Kerala - Apr 14, 2012
- Nepal seeks to end social malpractices - Jul 25, 2011
- Guruvayur temple saw 198 weddings in a single day (Feature With Image) - Sep 21, 2010
- Bad day for party but Advani Yatra's Karnataka leg on: BJP - Oct 15, 2011
- 'Explosive' mining report seems to 'implode' Karnataka BJP (Karnataka Newsletter) - Jul 29, 2011
- Tension time for BJP ahead of Karnataka bypoll - Mar 17, 2012
- BJP's 2nd chief minister in 3 years for Karnataka - Jul 29, 2011
- Hectic parleys in Karnataka BJP for new leader - Aug 01, 2011
- BJP leaders gift Gita to Russian envoy (Lead) - Dec 21, 2011
Tags: accusation, acharya, assertion, backdrop, bharatiya janata party, bizarre ritual, bjp government, brahmins, dalit, endowments, hindu god, hindu society, late november, leftovers, plantain, skin ailments, state assembly, two temples, vow, western ghats