Weeks after stone-pelting at Ganesha procession, Shobha Yatra held in Davanagere

DAVANAGERE: Nearly a month after tensions broke out when stones were pelted at a Ganesha idol immersion procession, a Shobha Yatra was taken out in the city on Saturday. On September 19, stones were pelted at the Ganesha idol immersion procession at Bethoor Road. The Shobha Yatra began from the same location today.

Heavy police security, led by Police Superintendent Uma Prashanth, including 1,500 police personnel from the DAR and KSRP, was deployed. Additional personnel were deployed at sensitive and most sensitive locations. The police had warned against raising any slogans and protection was provided to mosques along the Shobha Yatra route.

The Shobha Yatra was organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Sarvajanik Dasara Committee in which BJP and Hindu leaders and activists also took part. Among them included former minister M P Renukacharya and MLA B P Harish. An image of Ugra Narasimha was installed at the main gate at Bethoor Circle. Several cultural troupes performed on the ‘dollu’ and ‘chende’ along the Shobha Yatra route.

At one point, a group of youths insisted that they wanted DJ music to accompany the procession. However, they were convinced against it by the SP and and Hindu leaders.