Curbs still in place for Made Snana: DC

Kukke Subrahmanya (DK Dist.): Dakshina Kannada district administration still believes that its diktat on banning the Made Snana is valid for the next two days.
Deputy commissioner Channappa Gowda told TOI: We still have restrictions on performing the ritual. But if there is public pressure, we have to bow to it.
What turned the tables on the district administration’s decree was resistance from devotees, followed by Malekudiyas refusal to decorate the temple chariot – which finally culminated in muzrai minister VS Acharya asking the temple administrator Sundar Bhat to maintain the ‘status quo’.
From morning, devotees thronged the administrator’s office resisting the ban. “We have come from Mumbai. If we had known about this we would not have come. We want to do it,’’ said Suresh V from Mumbai. Sources said the administrator got nearly 400 requests from devotees that they be allowed to perform the ritual and fulfill their vow. “We have taken the vow and we have to fulfill it. We fear God’s wrath,’’ Sumathi from Bangalore said.
Meanwhile, Malekudiyas who decorate the temple chariot for the annual fest with bamboo sticks and Nagara betta (cane), refused to decorate the chariot saying that ‘made snana’ ritual was a pre-cursor to the ‘Shasthi.’
This put the temple administration in a dilemma as `Shasthi’ culminates with the pulling of the chariot with canes (elsewhere done with ropes) and the cane is later distributed as ‘prasadam’.
Channappa Gowda said: We have directed temple authorities that during ‘asthamangala prashne’ devotees should not be asked to perform the ‘made made snana’ as relief for their problems. This should bring down the practice gradually.
“This year it was announced at the last minute and many were agitated. We will soon hold consultation with all stakeholders and take a decision regarding this practice next year,’’ he added.