Pics: Inchara Udupi
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Mar 25: Even as the ban order issued against the sacrifice of animals during the annual Suggi Maripuja at the three shrines dedicated to Goddess Marikamba at Kaup has dampened the spirits a bit, the Suggi Maripuja, which is held simultaneously in the three shrines, began on a grand scale on Tuesday March 24.
Lacs of devotees from the undivided Dakshina Kannada district, several districts on the other side of the ghat, as well as Kerala and Mumbai come here to take part in the festival and invoke the blessings of the Goddess.
On Tuesday night, idol of Mariyamma made from a particular kind of tree is brought from a specific spot. The idol is then installed in the seat meant for the Goddess, after which the Goddess is decorated with ornaments, flowers etc. This is followed by Darshana service, in which the Goddess is invoked on the Darshana Patri.
The Maripuja ends after the devotees offer their offerings, and perform religious vows undertaken by them for saving from diseases, helping out of dangers, achieving financial and family progress etc. At the end of the second day, the festival ends with the ceremonious unseating of the idol. It is generally felt that the devotees might seek to offer the animals to the Goddess after praying to her near their homes instead of the shrines, if the district administration strictly implements ban on sacrifice of animals near the shrines.
District in-charge minister, Vinay Kumar Sorake, clarified that the state government has no role in the ban of animal sacrifice during Maripuja. He said that the ban came into affect after Prani Daya Sangha approached the high court. He said that the government will consider taking steps after studying the ban order issued by the high court.
The minister visited the shrines in Kaup on the occasions of Maripuja on Tuesday. He felt that the administrations of the Marigudis can convince the court of the need to continue this practice. He added that the government will also be pleading in the court to ensure that traditional and religious rituals do not suffer.