Mass prayers for 'common sense' to elected reps: Poojary

Lauds appointment of dalit women, widows as priests at Kudroli temple

Former Union Minister B Janardhan Poojary has said that a special Brahmakalashabhisheka will be performed at Shree Gokarnanatheshwara Kshetra for the prosperity of the country.

“A mass prayer to give ‘common sense’ to all elected representatives of the district to oppose the ongoing Yettinahole project will be conducted,” said Poojary.

Addressing mediapersons on Monday, the former minister said that the people would also pray for the State and Central governments, so that they can chalk out permanent drinking water schemes to Chikkaballapur, Kolar, Bengaluru Rural and Tumakuru districts. “The Navaratri Utsav and Mangaluru Dasara will be celebrated in a grand manner at the Kshetra on the occasion of the silver jubilee year of the renovation of the Temple. The Dasara celebrations will include prayers for the prosperity of the drought-affected State,” he explained.

Poojary welcomed the decision of the State government to celebrate the Jamboo Savari on October 23, instead of October 22, on the day of Ayudha Pooja.

“The government had to decide for a grand procession of Goddess Chamundeshwari and pray to her for the prosperity of the entire State. At least now, the chief minister has taken the right decision,” said the senior Congressman.

The former minister, however, demanded that the government give reservation to financially backward people from upper castes. “The government should appoint dalits as priests in Muzrai temples. Drop ideas such as bringing the Dharmasthala Sri Manjunatheshwara Temple under Muzrai Department,” he advised.

The Gokarnanatha Kshetra has taken revolutionary steps like appointing dalit women and widows as priests in the Temple. This move has received positive response, and even the board of the Tirupati Sri Venkataramana Temple has decided to appoint 200 dalit priests, he informed.

Utsav schedule
The Navaratri Utsav and the Mangaluru Dasara will begin at Kudroli on October 13. The Mahanavami Utsav will commence on the same day at 8.30 am.

The Navadurga and Sharada Pratistapana would be held on the same day, at 11.15 am.
The procession of Hore Kanike will be held from the Nehru Maidan on October 14 at 3 pm.

After the nine days of celebration, the Mangaluru Dasara Shobha Yathre (procession) will be held on Vijayadashami day on October 23, at 4 pm.