BANGALORE – In a self-proclaimed atheist chief minister Jagadish Shettar headed BJP government, a sum of Rs 17.5 crore is going to be spent to offer prayers in temples across the state to invoke Gods for rains to counter the worst drought and scarcity of drinking water seen in the last 42 years.
On Friday, muzarai (religious endowment) department issued a circular to all its 35,000 temples across the state to hold special pujas to propitiate rain gods. The pujas comprising Varuna Mantra, Jalabhisheka and Parjanya Japa will be held on July 27 and August 2.
“We have released Rs 5000 to each of the 35,000 temples to conduct special poojas on two different days,” muzarai minister Kota Srinivas Poojary said.
Defending the government’s stand in seeking divine intervention, Poojary said: “I strongly feel God can only help us from nature’s fury. The pujas are being held not just for the welfare of people but also livestock, who are worse hit. I am confident that the special pujas will bring prosperity to the entire state in the coming days.” Poojary said he will also appeal to churches and mosques in the state to conduct such special prayers for rains.
It is not just Poojary who is superstitious. He seems to be following the footsteps of his predecessors — Es En Krissnaiah Setty and VS Acharya — in the BJP government. The height of superstitions came to the fore when Setty as muzrai minister in 2008-09 ordered daily puja, distribution of Tirupati laddus and Ganga jal in all government temples for the welfare of BJP government and Yeddyurappa. An embarrassed Yeddyurappa had the order withdrawn.
Comments are closed.