Thousands take part in Sandal Uroos

Devotees stage protest demanding entry of Shakhadri

Thousands of devotees took part in the annual Sandal Uroos programme of Sri Guru Dattatreya Bababudanswami Darga at Bababudangiri on Wednesday.

Urging the district administration to allow Peeta head Sajjane Nasheen Gaus Mohammed Shakhadri to enter inside the cave, the devotees and fakeers staged a protest for more than one hour. They shouted slogans against the district administration.

There was scuffle between the police and the devotees and created a tensed situation at the venue.

Deputy Commissioner V Yashvanth said that rituals should be observed as per the directions of the Supreme Court.

Mujawar who has been appointed by the Shakhadri will be allowed inside the sanctum sanctorum. The devotees can paste sandal on the tombs.

However, the court’s order should not be violated.

However, Shakhadri announced that he will question it in the court and he along with his family left the venue without having darshan of the peeta.

Earlier in the day, the devotees had brought sandal from Joladal to Badaamakan. Later, it was carried to Athigundi. After offering prayers at Athigundi masjid, the sandal paste was taken in a procession to Bababudangiri.

The procession was accompanied by bands, daff, and so on. Later, Shakhadri family was invited to take part in the uroos. As the sandal paste was taken out in a procession, devotees were seen offering coins. A large number of women had taken part in the procession. The devotees entered the cave and had the darshan of the tomb.

Congress district president M L Murthy, Muslim leaders Yusuf Haji, Muneer Ahamed and others participated.

Deputy Commissioner, Additional DC K P Honakeri, Tahsildar Veena, AC Prashanth and others were on the spot, to ensure that there was no untoward incident. The police security was beefed up in in Bababudangiri.