Hundreds of devotees take part within the rathotsava (annual chariot competition) of Channakeshava temple in Belur, Karnataka, on April 4, 2023.
Channakeshava Rathotsava (annual chariot competition) was held in Belur on April 4 with out recitation of the Quran (Koran). The moulvi (Muslim priest) from Dodda Meduru village in Belur taluk provided his prayers and accepted the felicitation from the temple administration.
Sajjad Basha Khadri Saheb, the moulvi, who has been reciting excerpts from the Quran in the beginning of the rathotsava, the annual chariot competition, prior to now, selected not to achieve this this time.
In a written communication to the State Government, Khadri Saheb mentioned, “I offered my prayers by reciting a shloka in our style, standing on the steps in front of the temple, and accepted the felicitation by the temple committee. I wish to convey that I have not recited the excerpts of the Quran.”
It is not clear why the moulvi determined not to read out excerpts from the Quran, which has been the follow for many years.
A couple of Hindutva activists had opposed recitation of the Quran in the course of the annual chariot competition. Last week, they staged a protest urging the district administration to cease the follow.
Following the protest, the Department of Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments despatched a crew of agama (custom or ritual) specialists. Based on their opinion, the division directed the temple authorities to conduct the rituals as per the temple handbook and the custom.
Hassan Deputy Commissioner M.S. Archana had instructed mediapersons that the moulvi would recite the excerpts standing on a pedestal close to the temple.
Dr. Narayana Swamy, chairman of the temple administration committee, instructed mediapersons that this time the moulvi had not read out excerpts from the Quran. “He has only offered his prayers. He has given in writing that he did not recite the Quran,” he mentioned.
Hassan district administration had deployed police personnel in Belur to keep away from any untoward incident in the course of the celebrations. VHP and Bajrang Dal activists had threatened to stage a protest if the moulvi was allowed to recite excerpts from the Quran in entrance of the chariot.
The competition started round 11 a.m. amidst tons of of devotees, together with those that got here from neighbouring taluks and districts.
