Rally to fight Made Snana, obscure rituals

Mangaluru: Several progressive thinkers and organisations in the city have come together to hold a rally on November 14 and demand the government ban practices like Madey Snana , which sees devotees rolling on leftovers on banana leaves,  and Yede Snana, which has them rolling on leaves smeared with naivedyam offered to the gods.

Speaking to reporters here on Monday, Mr K S Shivaram, president of the Rajya Hindulida Vargagala Jagrutha Vedike ,which is organizing the  rally, said it would begin at the Kote Anjaneya Temple in Mysuru on November 14 and reach Kukke Subrahmanya the next day.

Expressing his displeasure at Sri Chennamalla Swamiji of Nidumamidi Mutt and other petitioners agreeing in court to confine themselves to Yede Snana while giving up the Madey Snana ritual,  he said, “Practices like Madey Snana, Panktibedha and Yede Snana are all inhuman.

We oppose Yede Snana too as devotees are allowed to roll on the plantain leaves with naivedyam instead of leftovers like in Madey Snana.  The government must ban this practice too.”

Coming down hard on the wastage of food in the name of a religious practice, Mr Shivaramu opposed the use of milk during the “Maha Mastakabhisheka.” “We will oppose this practice too,” he declared.

Calling Pankti Bedha (separate seating for Brahmins during lunch)   as a form of untouchability, Mr Shivaram said the enforcement of the  anti- superstitious law was essential  to get rid of all such practices.