As a three-day made snana ritual began at Kukke Subrahmanya temple on Tuesday, a group of activists staged a protest here seeking a ban on the ritual.
K.S. Shivaramu, president of the Karnataka State Backward Classes Awareness Forum, led the protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office.
He said practices such as made snana were an affront to humanity and they differentiate among communities. In this age where scientific temper was being promoted, practices such as made snana and pankti bheda (discrimination while serving food at temples) need to be barred, he said.
Mr. Shivaramu said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who had fought against such practices earlier, should use inherent powers vested under the Endowment Act to bar such practices in temples. The State government should bring in legislation to bar such superstitious practices, which were promoted by priestly class by creating fear among devotees, he said.
Activists from the Democratic Youth Federation of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Janavadi Mahila Sanghatane, Dalita Hakkugala Horata Samiti and some seers from Shivamogga, Chitradurga and Siruguppa participated in the protest.
