Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Mar 23: The religious practice of devotees walking on red hot cinders during annual festivals of certain shrines and temples will be a thing of the past, if the Chief Minister has his way. Siddaramaiah made this announcement at the state assembly on Tuesday March 22.

Devotees of various temples, religious centres and shrines across the state including the coast have, since times unknown, been following the practice of walking on burning cinders, which they believe, would appease the deities and rid them of the evil.

Three deaths and injuries to over 80 persons had occurred during the said ritual at Goddess Adishakti Maramma temple at Hattenahalli in Tumakuru recently. During the assembly session, opposition parties urged the chief minister to order release of increased compensation to families of the deceased and the injured. Rejecting this demand, Siddaramaih said that this ritual is superstitious and disbursement of higher compensation would indirectly mean extending encouragement to such practices.

The government has already disbursed two lac rupees to the families of the deceased, Rs 25,000 to the seriously injured, and Rs 10,000 to those who suffered minor injuries, by way of compensation. Siddaramaiah vehemently opposed the demand for increase in this compensation.

When JDS members said that it would be better to ban this ritual in the light of the stand taken by him, the chief minister said it would be banned in the state shortly.