Puttur: Dubai-based youth washed away while performing father's last rites


Arun Uppinangady
Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur

Puttur, Jun 11: A young man from Mangalore, who was employed in Dubai and had come to his hometown only a few days ago, was feared drowned at Uppinangady here on Wednesday June 11.

Prashant (24), a resident of Nellikar in Mangalore, had come to Uppinangady to perform rituals for the repose of his father's soul, when the incident took place.

Prashant's father Sundar Poojary had left home 20 years ago in a state of mental disorder. The family, having lost all hopes of his return, recently consulted an astrologer who said that Sundar had passed away. It is learnt the astrologer also told the family that until they perform certain rituals for the salvation of his soul, they would not be able to live in peace.

Prashant came down from Dubai last Sunday, and it was decided to conduct the final rites on Wednesday. Accordingly, Prashant along with his mother Vasanti, sister and other relatives came to Uppinangady and before the rituals began, the priest asked them to take a dip in the river.

However, while the rest of the family took the dip at a safer spot in the river, Prashant insisted on doing so at the point where two rivers join. Despite warnings and pleas from his uncle and an elderly lady who told him not to go to that spot as the current was strong there, he did not heed to their advice and went away all alone.

Even as he was bathing, Prashant was pulled in by the water and in minutes, he totally disappeared.

As soon as the family realized that Prashant was washed away, they raised an alarm. Karunakar Suvarna, a trustee of a temple called the fire service. The firemen along with local swimmers Abusali and Mohammed searched every nook and corner for Prashant but he was nowhere to be found. When they efforts went in vain, the locals grew expressed discontent and the temple committee decided to seek the help of expert divers from Tannirbavi. The team from Tannirbavi arrived in the evening too searched for Prashant with the help of the locals. The search operation continued into the night but without success.

  

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Comment on this article

  • aa, doha

    Thu, Jun 12 2014

    very sad to hear... please first give a tough punishment to astrolger....

    DisAgree [4] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • readerwriter007, pune

    Thu, Jun 12 2014

    Just because of this incident, let's not discuss about rituals, hindutwa, formalities... etc. It's all set by our elders and every religion has this. This incident, is just an accident. No ritual said he need to go deep in the water to take bath. It's clearly mentioned as he proceeded inspite of cautions by so many. So, it's just destiny which pulled him. Nothing more than that. It's a great loss for the family. What a disaster. They came to do last rites for their father and the pillar of the family is washed away. Really sad and heart felt condolence.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • rashid, abu dhabi

    Thu, Jun 12 2014

    Religion and its rituals, teachings should be simple and intelligible based on reason and sound logic. It should be free from superstitions and irrational beliefs.

    DisAgree [9] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Joseph, Qatar

    Thu, Jun 12 2014

    We live in an era coupled with stiff and competitive survival modes of existence(courtesy .. solely) with mounds of rumour mongers and false beliefs doing the rounds and playing a mockery. Even the learned and disciplined, due to human tendency (by default) fall gullible to these types of temptations somewhere. This is basically the reason why every person (I mean sound and sane individual) is exhorted (encouraged) to listen to his own heart and go as per his own conscience without any external force being implied on him / her ... the result can be visible later on.

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar, M'lore

    Thu, Jun 12 2014

    Oho ! Oho! Going through comments
    I saw it was dear Henry who said something about rituals.Now Henry
    whether one likes it or not there are set traditions in all religions as to what to do after death! It's a long list!Like Oliver Sutari who wrote a beautiful poem 'Rose for the Living' the other day in this portal (special column) the 'rituals' or love' when alive is bare minimum or negligible.
    Once you die- I mean when one dies-all hell breaks loose!There's Maasik, Varschik, Varsaanthikaa, Shradda, Pindaa and everything
    done to cater to the departed soul.
    Never mind if 'care' is not taken when you are alive. Every religion has it...Is it not? Month's mind, 7th day remembrance, Death Anniversary and all that.
    All do it without knowing the 'significance' even! Just a ritual it has become! Otherwise 'Bootha 'or' Pretha' baadhe!
    We have the most common 'Brahmachari' dosha! It means the one who died without even getting married! Now when alive this chap
    in the family is the most neglected. He is never given importance and has to do even the menial jobs. Once dead, he becomes all powerful, starts giving trouble and rules the roost!Whoa?
    So why don't we take care, love when alive?? Then the 'brahmachari' wouldn't have pestered as is your thought after death-right? All these things need 'fine tuning' thinking.
    Now,I have heard so many talking after marriage that it would have better to have been a 'brahmachari' and 'died' the same way to have the best of both worlds!
    Yes or No?

    DisAgree [2] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Prabhu, Mlore

    Thu, Jun 12 2014

    Why blame only astrologers.
    There are instances when someone puts his hand on a sick person and says You are healed!
    How many have been asked to stop taking insulin and other life saving drugs in gods name .....and then have suffered and died .
    A case is still going on for hundreds who died in a sick bay down south who were forced to give up medicines UNDER the pretext YOU ARE HEALED.

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar, M'lore

    Thu, Jun 12 2014

    R.I.P. Prashant.
    1. Someboy said unwanted rituals. Will you take care of 'Bhoota'?
    2. From hindsight, think Prashant should have shown his horoscope first to the Pandit.
    You show or you don't show-your horoscope that is, what is to happen-will happene happen.
    Is it not?

    DisAgree [2] Agree [23] Reply Report Abuse

  • Shreyas Rai, Mangalore

    Thu, Jun 12 2014

    The Current at the place where the river meets is extremely heavy and since i am from Uppinangady... i always say people saying that even if water is less it is difficult to control and many people in the past also have lost lives including expert swimmers.. RIP the Soul..

    DisAgree [1] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Monu, perla

    Thu, Jun 12 2014

    Sad news… Temple committee or Panchayath /police should keep a security guard (good swimmer) at this place, as I know this place is very beautiful , attractive , many people coming from different place to perform rituals throughout the year, but they don’t know the dangerousness . If there is such security staff he can alert to new comers about the safety.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Subash Pai , Mangalore

    Thu, Jun 12 2014

    You mean to say security guards in Kashi 1000 Sringeri 25 Udupi matt 10 Durga Parameshwari 15 Kollur 100 so on and so forth. Instead people should use their common sense.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [35] Reply Report Abuse

  • Harold D'cunna, Mangalore, India

    Thu, Jun 12 2014

    Mr.Subash Pai, I do agree with u. But what about temple guides to the devotees and display boards in local and English language with sign board, not to venture into water.

    Here in this case, it might be self inflicted death as he has refused to dip himself in safe hollow water in spite of continuous request from his family members, to perform the rituals.


    May Prashant soul rest in peace.

    DisAgree Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Koti, Kundapura

    Thu, Jun 12 2014

    In India biggest business is religion these so called priests from every community make scare the people to make money. May be father will return after hearing this news and priest get a taste of his "becha chande" from public.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [25] Reply Report Abuse

  • For Justice, Abu Dhabi / Ubar

    Thu, Jun 12 2014

    In this tragedy,the most heart pinching part as reported by the local news paper 'Suddimahithi' is Prashant never seen his father alive bcoz when his father left home his mother was pregnant of Prashant !

    DisAgree [1] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • RAVINDRA, KARKALA

    Thu, Jun 12 2014

    Very Sad indeed.RIP. Govt has to make some contingent plan for such disaster. Last year monsoon, hevoc created due to sudden release of water from Dam at midnight and resultant flood, we hope such thing will not repeat in this monsoon.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sir Lancelot, Manglore

    Thu, Jun 12 2014

    Astrologer says and we perform... really foolishness, wonder still we live in superstition
    Pray for Prashant soul rest in peace. Astrologer Pandit should get jailed soon.

    DisAgree [11] Agree [48] Reply Report Abuse

  • RJ Roshan, Mangalore

    Thu, Jun 12 2014

    dear sir y he should be jailed...he had done to sustain his livelihood...
    after certain warnings of many he went dipped himself at that point...is it the mistake of Astrologer?

    DisAgree [5] Agree [33] Reply Report Abuse

  • Well wisher, Udupi

    Thu, Jun 12 2014

    It's not the mistake of anyone it was sheer destiny, just look at the whole circumstance after so many years he had to come down from abroad to perform the rites and give away his life, death comes in different forms.

    DisAgree Agree [25] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vicky D, Dubai

    Thu, Jun 12 2014

    Sad indeed. Its the responsibility of every parent to teach their kids basics swimming at an early age for being physically fit & life saving at times..!

    DisAgree [2] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • RJ Roshan, Mangalore

    Thu, Jun 12 2014

    summane oithalla ondu jiva astrologiya murkathanakke...
    "Nambike beku ...apanambike salladu"

    DisAgree [2] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Cynthia, Moodbidri

    Thu, Jun 12 2014

    Why so much attraction towards water and fire ?? When our people will learn 'safety first' ?

    DisAgree [11] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar, M'lore

    Thu, Jun 12 2014

    Molyaar Kaale Cynthi?

    DisAgree Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • For Justice, Abu Dhabi / Ubar

    Thu, Jun 12 2014

    What a tragedy ! Heartfelt condolences to the family.Hope the Tannirbavi freinds will succeed in getting the diceased.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Pradeep , Mangalore/ moodbidri

    Wed, Jun 11 2014

    its calling height of foolishness, now catch that astrologer and put in to the same river. if he knows about his father. why he don't now about prashanth.

    DisAgree [9] Agree [30] Reply Report Abuse

  • avani, mlore

    Thu, Jun 12 2014

    Dear Pradeep, believing in astrology or not is individuals choice. There are many factors. I may not beleive but when my family members insist, for their satisfaction I may do certain things based on astrology. (As long as it is not harmful to sellf and others). Here the incident is not because of astrologer. Astrologer did not ask him to go to dangerous spot in the river. If you read the article you will see, even his family members warned him not to get into water in that spot. He ignored. Purely his carelessness. May his soul RIP.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Pradeep, Mangalore/moodbidri

    Thu, Jun 12 2014

    Dear Avani, please read this sentence (It is learnt the astrologer also told the family that until they perform certain rituals for the salvation of his soul, they would not be able to live in peace)now my question is where is the peace, Why people are beliving in astrology, this is lesson for all who belives astrology, how that astrologer desided that his father is died, if he knows the past why he failed to find out the future like prashanth death

    DisAgree [1] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • V D'Souza, Udupi / Doha

    Wed, Jun 11 2014

    And now push that astrologer into the same river.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [38] Reply Report Abuse

  • Muhammad, mlore

    Wed, Jun 11 2014

    It is not safe to swim in river unless you have expertise....I am from uppinangadi...please beware while getting into river that too after the onset of monsoon...There is also a dam nearby where they release water...Few people in past has lost life because of it....
    Feel pity for the family...Hope God give them strength

    DisAgree [1] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • jeetendra hegde, mumbai

    Wed, Jun 11 2014

    utter foolishness...RIP both souls.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • leslie, udupi

    Wed, Jun 11 2014

    Once again I call upon expert swimmers and novices to be careful with water...
    It is not man's habitat...
    Extra caution is required when one takes risk beyond normal....

    DisAgree [1] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Wed, Jun 11 2014

    Very shocking and sad incident What a shame that we have to loose precious young life for no reason..... . I share the grief of the families. But one thing, sorry to say that unwanted rituals & traditions are playing a major role in such incidents. R.I.P.

    DisAgree [10] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vinod, Mangalore

    Wed, Jun 11 2014

    God! Why such testing times..
    May his soul rest in peace.. May the family get the strength at this difficult time.
    They say never take nature for granted..

    DisAgree [1] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Shekar Moily Padebettu, Udupi/India

    Wed, Jun 11 2014

    Vinaashe kaale vipareetha Buddhi.When the bad time struck,people are not in a mood to listen others call/advice/warning.Death is unpredictable and certain but when,where,why nobody knows.Very sad incident.Chances of survival is very bleak.Hope,they will find the mortal remains soon.RIP

    DisAgree [1] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • ISMAIL.K.PERINJE, PERINJE

    Wed, Jun 11 2014

    Very very sad incident.May soul rest in peace.It is destiny which forced him dip in SANGAMA(two river joining spot).We must heed to elder's advise and should he agreed to elder's plea then such very unfortunate would not happened.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [37] Reply Report Abuse


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