Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (DV)
Mangalore, Sep 27: The state government will consider allowing women to conduct pujas in the sanctus sanctorums of temples coming under the muzrai department, said chief minister Siddaramaiah.
He was speaking after inaugurating the Mangalore Dasara or Navaratri celebrations at Kudroli Shree Gokarnanatheshwara Temple here on Saturday September 27.
Responding to a request by managing trustee of the Kudroli Temple committee Janardhan Poojary to allow women to perform puja in the Temple's sanctum sanctorum, Siddaramaiah said that the move would be introduced on an experimental basis, and expressed hope that there would not be any opposition to it.
Hailing the Mangalore Dasara as historic, Siddaramaiah said, "I feel very happy to inaugurate this festival. In Mysore too Dasara is celebrated with great pomp and splendour. The Mysore Dasara began to be celebrated on a grand scale in 1610, and this time it is the 415th celebration. Today Dasara is celebrated as a state festival or festival of the people."
"I have visited Mangalore several times, and this time I do so with greater enthusiasm. I have sought the blessings of all gods and prayed for the betterment of others. When we pray for others without selfishness then we will also be blessed," he added.
"Today I prayed for Karnataka and its people, and asked god to bless us all with good health, prosperity and peace. All are equal before god, without any caste or religious discrimination.
"Some dirty-minded people are dividing the society in the name of god and religion. May god give them wisdom and bless them. We should strive to unite the society and not divide it. We should live together with love and faith. Though people of various religions worship various gods, god is one and is only called by different names," he said.
Recalling the contribution of Sri Narayana Guru, he said, "Sri Narayana Guru fought against untouchability. When lower caste people were not allowed inside temples, Narayana Guru himself decided to build a temple. The revolution started from Kerala.
"Any system or practice that discriminates among people should be abolished. The suppressed clases should be encouraged to come to the mainstream. Sri Narayana Guru belongs not only to the Billawa community, but to all the suppressed classes. He was a great guide and a visionary who gave importance to education," the CM said.
"Men and women both are equal. Even in animals we have genders, it is a natural law. We should treat everyone as equal. Because of our system women are being suppressed. Women have the right to good position and respect. The society should fight agianst the suppression of women and protect them," he urged.
Janardhan Poojary in his address lauded the CM for coming to the event on time and said that every minister should follow the CM's example in time management.
Poojary said that Sri Narayana Guru was revolutionary and humanitarian.
Stating that respecting woman is one's duty and responisility, he appealed to the CM to appoint women priests and allow then to perform pujas in the sanctum sanctorums of temples.
Addressing the CM, Poojary said, "Your government shoud create history by allowing women to perform puja. Your government can become the first to appoint women priests in all government temples, and thus show the world what a heart you have.
"Power and wealth are not permanent. A change is required in society," he added.
H S Sairam, Jaya C Suvarna and R Padmaraj felicitated the CM.
Former union minister Oscar Fernandes and his wife Blossom, district incharge minister Ramanath Rai , health minister U T Khadar, urban development minister Vinay Kumar Sorake MLAs J R Lobo and Mohiuddin Bava, MLC Ivan D'Souza, mayor Mahabala Maarla and others were present.