Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SS)

Puttur, Apr 17: Hindu organisations have appealed to Hindu devotees to buy jasmine flowers from autorickshaws which have hoisted saffron flags and from Hindu traders only during the ongoing Puttur Mahalingeshwara fair.

The fair which is conducted on a grand scale has started on April 10 and will continue till April 20.

In the wake of the hijab row, Hindu organisations had called for a total ban on selling of flowers by non-Hindus near the temples which has been imposed in the fair. In Devara Gadde more than 300 shops have come up that are selling flowers.

Traders have bought space at a premium to sell flowers for the Ullalthi and Mahalingeshwara fair scheduled to be held on Sunday, April 17 when there is a large congregation of devotees. Due to higher demand for flowers, traders have bought space by participating in auctions. In Devara Gadde there is a demand for jasmine flowers during the fair.

Jasmine flowers are used in plenty in the fair from Balnadi. The flowers are offered as a vow or a promise undertaken in the name of god.

Previously, jasmine flowers were sold by non-Hindus near the temples.

Hindu organisations have now appealed to all devotees to buy jasmine flowers from Hindu traders only.

Jasmine flowers worth Rs 50 lac is sold during the jathre and therefore Hindu organisations appealed that since it is a Hindu festival people devotees should also buy jasmine flowers from Hindus itself.

It is alleged that Hindu organisations have said money earned from sale of flowers will be used to counter anti-Hindu protests. Hindu Jagarana Vedike has started jasmine flowers for the day-long fair.

Dinesh Panjiga, secretary of Hindu Jagarana Vedike said only during the last seven years have there been sale of jasmine flowers and only this year 100% of the produce will be sold only by Hindu traders.

The vedike has also appealed to Hindu devotees to visit the fair in autos driven by Hindus for which flags have been distributed to auto drivers.