Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Nov 30: A youth from Kumbhashi in the taluk, who was preparing to undertake pilgrimage to Sabarimala shortly, drowned in the temple pond during Okuli celebrations on Tuesday November 28.

Deepak Devadiga (26), a resident of Vinayaka Nagar in Kumbhashi, had been performing mandatory austerities in preparation for the upcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage since some time. The annual car festival of Lord Vinayaka Temple in Anegudde, Kumbhashi, was held on Monday November 27. As is customary, the Lord’s idol is taken in a procession, culminating in the ceremonial bath in the temple pond. It has been practice here to throw fruits into the pond during Okuli, and the devotees keep swimming in the pond to collect the fruits so tossed.

Lord Vinayaka Temple in Anegudde does not have a separate pond of its own, and the pond of Harihara Temple, which is surrounded by pond upon which the path leading to the temple is built, is used for the Okuli celebration. Deepak drowned and died while swimming underneath the pathway located in the middle, to reach the other side of the pond, when he drowned. People who were present tried to save him, but did not succeed.

He was rushed to a doctor immediately, but he was pronounced brought dead. A case was registered by the local policemen. Investigation is continuing.