Sumangalis take a reformative New Year resolution

January 1, 2012

Mangalore, January 1: More than 2,500 sumangalis (married Hindu women) took a solemn pledge at Sri Kshetra Gokarnanatha on New Year's Day that they would not shed any of the symbols of their marriage in the event of death of their life-partners.

The event was the continued part of the reformative programmes initiated by the patron of the Temple B Janardhan Poojary.

Women will also declare openly that they will take the lead role in all religious and other auspicious rituals to break the barriers attached to widowhood.

Mr Poojary himself led the oath taking and other ceremonies in which his own family members and relatives too had participated in large numbers.

Poojary's daughter and daughter-in-law were also among those sumangalis who pledged before the deity that they would not remove their mangalasutra and they would continue to wear bangles, vermillion and ornaments even after the death of their husbands.

The women also declared openly that they would take the lead role in all religious and other auspicious rituals to break the barriers attached to widowhood.

It can be recalled that Poojary's wife Malathi and four other married women had taken an oath at the temple during Diwali celebrations this year on similar lines.

A special chandika yaga was performed prior to the oath taking, where all rituals were performed by women themselves. They offered arathi to the deity and pulled the silver chariot too.

At the end of the rituals all participant women were given saree, blouse piece, bangles, kumkum and flowers as prasada.

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Screen silence: Karnataka’s bold ‘switch-off’ strategy to boost SSLC scores

News Network

February 5,2026

In an era where digital distractions are the primary rival to academic excellence, the Karnataka Education Department is taking the fight directly to the living room. As the SSLC (Class 10) annual examinations loom, officials have launched a localized "digital strike" to ensure students aren't losing their competitive edge to scrolling or soap operas.

The 7-to-9 Lockdown

The department has issued a formal directive urging—and in some cases, enforcing via home visits—a total blackout of mobile phones and television sets between 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM. This two-hour window is being designated as "sacred study time" across the state until the examinations conclude on April 2.

Key Pillars of the Initiative:

• Doorstep Advocacy: Teachers are transitioning from classrooms to living rooms, meeting parents to explain the psychological benefits of a distraction-free environment.

• Parental Accountability: The campaign shifts the burden of discipline from the student to the household, asking parents to lead by example and switch off their own devices.

• The Timeline: The focus remains sharp on the upcoming exam block, scheduled from March 18 to April 2.

"The objective is simple: uninterrupted focus. We are reclaiming the evening hours for the students, ensuring their environment is as prepared as their minds," stated a senior department official.

Student vs. Reality

While the student community has largely welcomed the "forced focus"—with many admitting they lack the willpower to ignore notifications—the move has sparked a debate on enforceability. Without a "TV Police," the success of this initiative rests entirely on the shoulders of parents and the persuasive power of visiting educators.

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