Mangaluru, Dec 15: In spite of opposition from Dalit activists, ‘ede snana’ — the ritual of rolling over the ‘prasadam’ offered to the presiding deity — began at Kukke Subrahmanya Temple for the second year here on Tuesday. About 130 devotees from different parts of the State took part in the ritual by rolling on leftover prasadam.
‘Ede Snana’ was performed as an alternative to ‘Made Snana’, a ritual of rolling over leftovers of food eaten by Brahmins, which was opposed by activists and thinkers and also stayed by the Supreme Court.
In a statement, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim said ‘Ede Snana’ was being allowed as the practice of ‘Made Snana’ had been stayed by the court on December 13, 2014. He said ‘Ede Snana’ was performed earlier on the temple premises on December 27, 2014.
Dalit activists have been opposing ‘Made Snana’ and ‘Ede Snana’ on the ground that the practices were regressive and inhuman. They protested outside the Beltangady taluk office on Tuesday. Elaborate security arrangements had been made to prevent disruption of rituals.
Meanwhile, Bhaskara Bendodi, president of Adivasi Budakattu Hitarakshana Vedike, told media persons that he was in favour of ‘Made Snana’.
“District authorities have wrongly interpreted the Supreme Court’s order and barred ‘Made Snana’. I will question the action before the court,” he said.
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