Devotees throng Yellamma fair

GULBARGA, January 31: The Karnataka police successfully persuaded the thousands of devotees who thronged the Devi yellamma fair at Singanahalli village on January 29 not to offer the traditional semi-nude worship. The devotees, mainly women, come to the temple, clad only in neem leaves, to offer worship, as per custom. The practice has now been banned. This time, the group of people who traditionally tie bands of neem leaves around the chests and waists of the women wishing to offer prayers to Goddess Yellamma, refrained from doing so.