MYSURU: Nanjangud town observed a voluntary bandh on Thursday in protest against defiling of an idol of Lord Srikanteshwara during a religious procession recently by splashing water from bottles which had been consumed.
Business establishments, except medical stores, remained shut while former BJP MLA Harshavardhan led a rally through the main streets of the town. The famed Srikanteshwara temple also wore a deserted look.
For generations, the Andhakusara Samhara ritual has been conducted at the temple town during Dhanurmasa as per the Hindu calendar. On December 26, all preparations were made for the ritual at the Rakshasa Mantap, but some youths raised objection to the portrait of Andhakasura claiming that it resembled Mahishasura and that it was an insult to him.
When the procession idol of Lord Srikanteshwara was brought to the Rakshasa Mantap, some youths had splashed water from bottles on the idol. After the controversy, complaints were registered from both sides.
Meanwhile, the chief priest of the temple, Nagachandra Dixit, who had earlier claimed that clean water was splashed on the idol, had done a U-turn. “During the peace meeting, we were forced to sign a letter saying nothing had happend. We signed as we are government employees. But the people of Nanjangud know what happened and let them decide”, he said.