Bill to ban Made Snana faces oppn: We'll go to SC

Mangaluru: Strongly opposing the proposed Anti Superstition bill which includes a ban on Made Snana, Rajya Adivasi Budakattu Hitharakshana Vedike president Bhaskar Bendodi, who has been fighting for the continuation of the ritual at Kukke Subrahmanya shrine, has declared that he will approach the court against the bill and also reclaim  the administration of the temple for the Malekudiya community.

It may be recalled that Bendodi had fought the case in the Supreme Court demanding the continuation of Made Snana.

However Made Snana, where devotees (of all castes) roll on  plantain leaves with leftovers after Brahmins have lunch during Champa Shasti, has been stopped based on a stay by the Apex Court in December 2014. Instead, Yedey Snana is practiced where the rice offered to  God is placed on leaves and offered to the cow. Devotees roll on this. This was an alternate proposed by the Pejawar Swamiji. 

"Let me make it clear that the state government cannot include Made Snana in the proposed Anti-Superstition Bill as the matter is before the court. I  have applied for a writ at the Apex Court about two months ago. This Act proposes to stop the tradition of the temple which has been existing since several centuries. We strongly oppose this proposal," he told Deccan Chronicle. "If needed we will challenge this act in court," he declared.

"Kukke Subrahmanya has its own tradition. Initially Kukke temple belonged to Malekudiya community. Later due to various reasons, the administration went to different people and finally it is with the government. If the  government does not stop intervention, we will have to reclaim the temple administration," he said.