It is was unusual experience for the residents of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Nagar, an exclusive Dalit locality with more than 200 houses, to brush shoulders with saffron-clad swamis of different religious mutts and share the food prepared by them.
In a district like Yadgir where the caste system still rules the roost, the heads of religious mutts visiting Dalit colonies and eating the food prepared by them is unheard of. To protest against the discriminatory practise of serving food to upper castes and others in some of the temples in Dakshina Kannada district, the swamis initiated the movement of Sahapankti Bhojana — where the upper castes have food with Dalits in their colonies.
The first such programme was held in Basavakalyan in Bidar district and the second at Belthangady in Dakshina Kannada district last year. This is the third Sahapankti Bhojana held in the State. Right from the morning, the Maremma Temple complexwas teeming with the people, both Dalits and curious onlookers from other localities.
The local delicacy Huggi, a sweet item made out of wheat and jaggery along with ghee, was served to the swamis who sat on the floor along with Dalit families. Later they were served rice and Sambar.
“This is a special day for me. I still cannot believe that the swamis had food with me,” said Susheela Melinamane, a Dalit housewife. After taking part in the programme, Sri Chennamalla Shivacharyaru of Nidumamidi Mutt, who took the lead in organising the event, said that people should adopt humanity and reject the Manu Smriti which was against the freedom of women, equality, social balance and education.
Sahapankti Bhojana is a part of the struggle against untouchability, he said and added that people should organise similar programmes to bring the social equality among the people of all communities.
Participants
Prominent among other swamis who participated in the event were — Sri Sarangadareshwara Mahaswamigal of Saranga Mutt in Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh, Sri Gnana Prakasha Swami of Urilinga Peddi Samastana Math of Mysuru, Sri Nanjundaswami of Urilinga Peddi Samsthana Mut at Kodla in Kalaburagi, Sidda Kabira Mahaswamigalu of Marlu Shankara Mutt at Chigarallia and Sri Shantaveera Murugarjendra Swami of Kasa Mutt in Gurmitkal in Yadgir district.
Members of the Pragatipara Dalit Okkuta including Sabanna Sungalkar, Baghawanth Anwar, Veerabhadrappa Eddalli, Samsan Malikeri, Mareppa Chattarkar and Chandrakanth Motnalli participated in the Sahapankti Bhojana.
