Mulki: No entry to Muslim vendors to Bappanadu Temple ‘Jatra’ again
Mangaluru: The Bappanadu Shri Durgaparameshwari Temple of Mulki, which remained a major symbol of religious harmony in the region for more than eight centuries, is facing communal problems during the festivities this year too.
Muslim vendors have been denied entry to the temple premises this year too, during the annual fair (Jatra) at the Temple.
The festival commenced with a flag-hoisting ceremony at the Bappanadu Temple on Wednesday, April 5.
On Tuesday, April 4, Muslim vendors arrived at the Temple to set up shop for the upcoming fair. They have, however, complained that they were denied permission to do so.
It is learned that a meeting was earlier held at the Temple regarding the jatra. Some members of the Bappanadu Temple administrative board, who are also members of the Sangh Parivar, put forth a request during the meeting to not permit non-Hindu vendors at the Temple.
They are learned to have made the request saying that, as per the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Act 2002, people of other religions may not run a business on the premises of a temple. In adherence to the rules given, Muslim vendors have been denied permission to set up shop on the temple premises during the entire period of festivities.
Other citizens, however, have expressed unhappiness over such changes in the temple convention.
Muslims had been selling flowers and toys during the Temple festivities for several decades, but the last two years, they are being denied permission to set up shop on the occasion.
Hereditary head of the Temple Dugadagganna Sawant, who spoke to Varthabharati, said that no vendor is permitted this year to set up stall on the temple premises. All the stores will be set up on land owned by private parties, he added.
“The Temple is under the administration of the Muzrai Department, because of which, the concerned authorities at the assistant commissioner’s officers were also informed of the matter. We have been instructed not to let non-Hindus conduct any sort of business on the Temple land. Since the Temple is under the Muzrai Department, we are helpless in the matter,” he clarified.
The Bappanadu Temple in Mulki is known for its 800-year-old legend of the goddess Shri Durgaparameshwari appearing in the dream of a Muslim businessman Bappa Beary asking him to build the Temple.
As Beary followed the orders of the goddess and got the Temple built in Bappanadu, the Temple convention continued for centuries to hand the Prasad (prayer offerings) to the members of Bappa Beary’s family before hoisting the temple flag to inaugurate the festivities.
It has, therefore, pained the people of the region that the age-old convention symbolizing the religious harmony of the Udupi-Dakshina Kannada region was ‘sacrificed’ at the ‘altar of communalism’.
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Hotel Taj West End in Bengaluru receives fake bomb threat via email
Bengaluru: Hotel Taj West End in Bengaluru received an email on Saturday morning, with a bomb threat. A thorough investigation, using sniffer dogs and the bomb squad on the hotel premises proved the threat to be a hoax, a top police officer has said.
The staff of the hotel, commonly used to host prominent politicians and cricketers, received the bomb threat e-mail, Deputy Commissioner of Police (central), HT Shekhar said. The bomb disposal squad rushed to the scene on being informed of the mail and checked the premises of the hotel thoroughly, before declaring the email threat a hoax, he added.
A complaint has been registered by the police and investigation is underway.
Three hotels in Bengaluru, including a five-star hotel, received bomb threats in May 2024. The city also witnessed a blast at the popular Rameshwaram Café, injuring at least nine people, which shocked the residents of Bengaluru.
