Fakirs denied entry to cave shrine

Former ZP chief calls it recent addition to row over Bababudangiri

Fakirs have been denied entry to the cave shrine at Bababudangiri during the annual uroos, following the recent order of the commissioner of the Department of Religious Endowment, said ZP former president K Mahammad.

Addressing reporters here on Tuesday, Mahammad blamed the Muzrai officials in the district for misleading the commissioner of the afore mentioned department, thus facilitating the order. Following this, the community will be forced to refrain the tradition practised for hundreds of years.

Mahammad explained that as is the tradition, fakirs reciting and beating of daira were entering the cave shrine to decorate the tombs with sandal paste, besides emblazon the tombs with galef (green coloured cloth), flowers and light incense sticks to complete the rituals. However, the district-level officials misled the higher ups in this regard.

The recent development is a continuum of many traditions associated with the shrine being relegated to pages of history. The district administration is capping many rituals, while the green-coloured clothes adorning the tombs have been removed. The visitors who were earlier permitted to offer prayers at the shrine are also being denied permission to do so, while the mosque frequently visited by people belonging to the community has been locked.

Mahammad said on the other hand, the people belonging to other community are being permitted to celebrate rituals, in violation of court orders.

The former ZP president said it has been decided to take a delegation to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, along with Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara – who is also the district in-charge minister – to  settle the row over shrine at the earliest.