Karnataka: Muslim orgs want entry to Hindu Temple bodies, Muslim vendors demand 40% stalls around Hindu temples.

Mangaluru: Mangaladevi Temple stall auction held amid protests by Hindu groups; Muslims take away 6 shops, want entry into Hindu Temple management committee. 

B Upendran | HENB | Mangaluru | Oct 15, 2023:: The Mangaladevi Temple is a Hindu temple at Bolara in the city of Mangalore in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is situated about three kilometres southwest of the city centre. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Shakti in the form of Mangaladevi, the presiding deity from whom the city derives its name.

The temple is of significant antiquity and is believed to have been built during the 9th century by Kundavarman, the most noted king of the Alupa dynasty, under the patronage of Matsyendranath. As per another legend, the temple is believed to have been built by Parashurama, one of the ten avatars of Hindu god Vishnu and later expanded by Kundavarman.

But the Muslims in the locality are now trying to enter the Temple Management Committee to gain a control over it. They are claiming more stalls around the Temples which sell Puja Samagri (materials needed for worship). But, Hindu organisations have launched a protest against it.

Amidst protests by Hindu organisations, the tendering process of the remaining stalls for the Navaratri festival at Mangaladevi Temple in the city was held on Saturday, October 14, anyway .

In the auction that was held for 11 stalls, six of them were awarded to Muslims. This means that the demand of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi Jathra vendors’ association (controlled by Muslim vendors)  of taking stalls during Navaratri festival is met.

Three days ago, when the administrative committee of the temple finalised the stall auction out of the 125 stalls, 92 were auctioned. However, only 71 people paid the bid amount and authorized the auction.

The Muslim controlled Dakshina Kannada and Udupi fair vendors’ committee filed a complaint with city police commissioner and district administration that Muslims had been kept out of the stall tendering outside the temple area within the MCC jurisdiction. It also held a protest on Friday in this regard. Additional DC held a meeting in this connection with the administrative committee of the temple and instructed them to hold the auction for the remaining stalls. Accordingly, the process was completed on Saturday. The Muslim committees have also placed their demand to make entry to the Hindu Temple management Committee and demanded at least 40% temple stalls under quota system.

With the auctioning process on Saturday, the task has been completed. In total, 82 stalls were auctioned. Administrative committee of the temple said that it will not hold any tendering process for the remaining stalls. As such Hindus got 76 stalls and Muslims got 6 stalls.

Navaratri festival dates at Mangaladevi Temple from October 15 to 24.

The present Congress Government in Karnataka is allowing undue Muslim demands irresponsibly in a mode of minority appeasement.

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__Inputs from Agencies.