Holy spirit invoked to stall Netravati diversion

Kolli (Dakshina Kannada): Devotees offered pooja to ‘Kalkuda Daiva,’ (a good spirit worshipped in Tulunadu) during the annual ‘Nema,’ (spirit worship ritual) at midnight of Mahanavami and Vijayadashami and sought divine intervention to stop diversion of the river Netravati as part of Yettinahole project to supply drinking water to parched districts of Kolar and Chikkaballapur. 

 

People of Dakshina Kannada prayed to goddess Kolli Durgadevi and Kalkuda Daiva to prevent diversion of the river. Nema or Kola is a ritual where a person is believed to be possessed by good spirit. People seek guidance from him during the ritual.  

 

Unlike the usual ‘Nema,’ where devotees come to the spirit and pray for the welfare of the family or with personal queries, devotees of Kolli village prayed to stop Yettinahole project and protect their lifeline, river Netravati, which originates in the Western Ghats and flows through Kolli village along with the tributaries.    

 

Prior to ‘Nema,’ devotees offered pooja to goddess Durgadevi to protect Netravati and ensure that people of Tulunadu were not affected. At the ‘Nema,’ held during midnight, the priest made the same request to the spirit and requested that nobody is affected. The person possessed by the spirit agreed to protect people of the region.