Samiti to go ahead with cattle fair in Kulkunda

Even amidst speculations over the cancellation of the historical annual cattle fair in Kulkunda, the Januvaru Jatre Horata Samiti has decided to organise the fair and inaugurate it at a particular ‘Muhurtam’ by performing cattle worship.

Addressing media persons, Samiti President Devanna Gowda said that Kulkunda cattle fair has been organised from several decades on the occasion of annual temple fair at Kukke Subramanya.

But, this year the Gram Panchayat took a sudden abrupt decision of not organising the cattle fair. Though the GP claims the reason for cancelling the fair on the trouble from a few organisations and lack of support from the departments concerned, they have not taken opinions of the public while taking such a major decision, said Devanna Gowda.

Disagreeing the claims made by the Gram Panchayat, he said the Police, Revenue, Forest and Veterinary Departments were co-operating to organise the fair by making the necessary arrangements and providing security. But the Panchayat administration has shown its inactiveness and escapist tendency by not coming forward to organise the fair.

Noting the same, the villages have unitedly come forward to organise the fair and requested the Endowment Minister, Sullia MLA and the temple administrative committee to give permission to organise the fair, Gowda said.

Further, he said that in a recent meeting with the Endowment Minister, it was decided to organise the cattle fair on full-moon day like usual practice and worship cattle prior to the sale.

Meanwhile, Gram Panchayat President Bhaskar Poojari, in a release has stated that the Panchayat in its meeting has decided to extend co-operation to the villagers and farmers to organise the fair. This decision has come in the backdrop of the Panchayat not receiving any reply to the letter written to the MLA and the Deputy Commissioner requesting for instructions on organising the fair. The Panchayat had written the letter owing to the pressure built by villagers and Malekudiya community members.