Widows to take centre stage at M'lore Dasara in Kudroli Temple

Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (BG)

Mangalore, Oct 3: "Women who have lost their husbands should not be called 'widows'. They must not be discriminated against and kept out of religious rituals. They must be treated as equal to men and shown respect like mothers," said Janardhan Poojary, addressing a press meet held here on Thursday, October 3.

On October 6, on the eve of Mangalore Dasara celebrations, two women who lost their husbands will be given a grand welcome with music band and religious rituals at Kudroli Shree Gokarnanatheshwara Temple. They will be inaugurating the Dattatreya idol at the Banyan tree (katte) near the temple, he said.

The two women will then continue to work in the temple as priestesses. They will also be allowed to enter the main 'Garbha Gudi' of the temple and perform puja to Lord Gokarnanatheswara, the deity of the temple, he said.

"There is a saying 'Matru Devo Bhava', which means 'mother is God'. Hence we must treat such women like mothers and allow them to perform any religious rituals and not discriminate against them. All are equal in the eyes of God. All possess the same rights in society, these were the preachings of Brahmashree Narayana Guru and the same principles will be followed in the Kudroli Sri Gokarnanatheswara Temple," he said.

"Nowhere has it been written that women shouldn not perform religious rituals after they become widows, nor should they be discriminated against. Hence, with a view to give a woman her rights in society and to respect her like a mother, this step has been taken," he added.

"Women have been treated  with a lot of disrespect in society. Rape and atrocities are on the rise. If a woman is treated with motherly care, this can be stopped," he said.

Harikrishna Bantwal, Sai Ram, Padmaraj and others were present.