Daijiworld Media Network – Chikmagalur (SP)

Chikmagalur, Dec 2: The annual celebration of ‘Datta Jayanti’ at Baba Budangiri Hills here has been a controversial affair since the last few years, after the Hindu outfits started giving lot of importance to the event. As the cave shrine also houses the centre of worship of the Muslims, the event has always attracted objections, criticisms and court cases.

Curtains fell on this year’s ‘Datta Jayanti’ celebrations on Tuesday December 1. The district administration, bending under pressure from the government, provided for the darshan of the ‘Dattapduke’ by the devotees, although this was not scheduled to be permitted as per the earlier plan. Widespread security arrangements were in place to control the mobs that included devotees who were wearing the ‘Datta Mala’ around their necks. People started making a beeline for the cave shrine since the early morning, notwithstanding chilly weather.

Special puja, oblation etc., were performed by keeping the idol of Lord Dattatreya and Paduke at a place adjacent to Datta Peetha. The ‘Poornahuti’ at the oblation on Tuesday signalled the culmination of the ‘Datta Jayanti’ rituals including Anusuya Jayanti, ‘begging’ by Datta devotees, Bhajan troupe going around the town, holding of a procession, etc.

The action of the  district administration in relaxing its stance and handing over Paduke to the devotees, after taking a firm stand that the Paduke, preserved in the district treasury, would not be provided for the celebrations because of security concerns, has given rise to a controversy. The administration has already come under criticism for permitting Datta Jayanti procession in the town.