pci courtesy – express

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, The Hindu Managalore, Dec 16.,2012

‘Ede snana’ is also a symbol of slavery of the downtrodden: Shivaramu

Karnataka Rajya Hindulida Vargagala Jagrutha Vedike president K.S. Shivaramu has sought an end to made snana (rolling on the plantain leaves on which Brahmins have partaken meal) or its modified form of ede snana (rolling on plantain leaves on which food offered to deity is kept) at Kukke Subramanya Temple.

The ritual, termed “castiest” and scheduled to be held for three days from Sunday on the premises of the famous temple in Subramanya, symbolised the exploitation of Dalits by upper castes, said Mr. Shivaramu at a press conference here.

Mr. Shivaramu, who was assaulted during the last year’s ritual when a group led by him staged a protest against it, said merely because the Supreme Court had stayed any modified ritual, it did not mean that the authorities of the temple, which is in the control of the Muzrai Department of the government, could resort to continue the “ugly and inhuman” practice. He said all facts had not been placed before the Supreme Court. He expressed the confidence that the Supreme Court would ultimately rule in favour of a ban on it once all details were submitted to it.

He said a committee of the State government’s Social Welfare Department had concluded that thepankti bhedha (serving food separately on the basis of caste) and untouchability were being practised in the temple. This had not been brought to the notice of the Supreme Court, he said.

His forum would do the needful.

He said the modification of the ‘made snana’ into ‘ede snana’ was done at the behest of Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji of the Pejawar Math and a government under the control of proponents of Brahminism had accepted this.

He said because of the efforts made by his group and other supporters similar practices in Tumkur and Ankola had come to an end.

HC order stayed

The Supreme Court has stayed the Karnataka High Court order allowing modification of the ritual ‘made snana, practised on the premises of the Subramanya temple in Kukke in Dakshina Kannada district.

Following a petition filed before the High Court by Channamalla Deskindra Mahaswami and others, the State government had proposed to allow devotees to roll over plantain leaves on which the food offered to the deity is placed.

The High Court had permitted this in its order on November 9. Passing an order on Friday on an appeal filed by Adivasi Budakattu Hitarakshana Vedike Karnataka, the bench of justices D.K. Jain and Madan B. Lokur said “the operation of the impugned order shall remain stayed”.