Right-wing groups oppose Quran reciting tradition to begin Karnataka’s Chennakeshava temple fest

Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad staged a protest urging the state government to stop the practice at the Belur temple; said there has been enough research to say that it was not an ancient practice but has been done only since 1932.

The 12th century Beluru Chennakeshava temple is one of the ancient temples of the state and is considered to be an architectural marvel. (Express/File)

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Right-wing groups Tuesday staged a protest opposing the tradition of reciting excerpts of Quran to mark the start of the annual chariot festival (rathotsava) at the historic Chennakeshava temple in Karnataka’s Belur on April 3.

Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) activists Tuesday urged the state government to stop the practice, which is part of the temple manual dating back to 1932. Mahipal of VHP said that there has been enough research to say that it was not an ancient practice but has been done only since 1932. “Muslim community has nothing to do with temple activities but it became a manual. We are demanding the government to remove it,” he added.

Meanwhile, a person named Sakib Pasha who shouted slogans against Bajarang Dal and VHP activists during the protest was taken into police custody. Hassan SP Hariram Shankar said there was no untoward incident and Pasha has been taken into custody.

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Reading out excerpts of the Quran has been a ritual to mark the beginning of the festival. But according to historians, it is still unclear when it started. However, it was included in the temple manual in 1932, and for many years none had objected to people reciting excerpts of the Quran. Last year, pro-Hindu groups staged protests demanding to ban the practice and also Muslims from putting up stalls during festivals.

After the district administration submitted a report on the matter, the then commissioner of the Muzrai department Rohini Sindhuri allowed the ritual stating that according to section 58 of the Hindu Religion Act, 2002, there should not be any interference in the rituals and traditions of the temple. The temple committee was then allowed to recite the verses from the Quran.

The 12th century Beluru Chennakeshava temple is one of the ancient temples of the state and is considered to be an architectural marvel. The Hoysalas completed the construction of the star-shaped temple in 103 years.

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