TUMAKURU: The annual fair of a temple has been stopped midway after dalits entered the place of worship at Kottihalli in Tumakuru taluk recently.
Making the matter worse, the bull of the temple “suddenly” become inactive and caste Hindus of the village feel that the animal is “fasting” after the dalits’ entry into the temple.
The trouble started with the commencement of Kucchangiyamma jatra began on May 19. When BJP MLA B Suresh Gowda visited temple, his supporters burst crackers and the temple bull ran away amid the noise, according to some locals.
In the early hours of May 20, around 40 dalit families entered the temple with ‘aarati’. No sooner, the temple authorities called off the festival.
Dalits say that the event was called off as the temple authorities feared that the procession of the deity would have to be taken through the Dalit Colony of the village. “Last year they had promised us to take the procession through the Dalit Colony and if we met the expenses. We were ready and collected `12,000. Yet they gave it a miss. So this time we entered the temple”, said Shivanna, a dalit.
There is also an allegation that two caste Hindus had sold another bull of the temple sometime ago. Taluk social welfare officer Shamim Unnisa said a peace meeting will be held soon to resolve the issue.