Karnataka : Belur temple recites Quran to kick off Rathotsav in generations-old tradition

Have you ever heard of such a tradition where a program in a mosque or church is started with a Hindu Veda mantra? Only Hindus follow such traditions and consider themselves blessed by calling themselves ‘Secular’! – Editor

The historic Chennakeshava temple in Belur continued with its age-old tradition of kicking off the rathotsava (chariot festival) after reciting passages from the Quran, despite opposition from Hindu activists.

The state’s endowment department allowed the temple authorities to go ahead with the practice on Wednesday. The annual celebrations started on Wednesday under strict vigil of the district police. Hundreds of people from across the state thronged the Chennakeshava temple to witness the two-day festival.

An official from the Endowment department told, “Reading excerpts from the Quran is a tradition but this year, there was a confusion as the temple authorities had initially issued a notice barring Muslim traders from setting up stalls. However, the endowment department took the suggestion of various priests and decided to go ahead with the tradition,”.

According to the tradition, a maulvi reads out excerpts from the Quran to mark the beginning of the celebrations at the Chennakeshava temple. Recently, as the spectre of communal tension loomed large over Karnataka, Right-wing activists had urged the district administration and temple authorities to bar Muslim traders from taking part in the festival.

However, the state endowment department had directed the temple administration not to bar any non-Hindu traders and allowed them to set up stalls and participate in the celebrations, according to senior officials of the department. A senior official told, “Accordingly, around 15 Muslim traders had set up their shops,”.

Source : Indian Express