Residents of the neighboring villages of Hariharpura and Holenarasipur taluk are said to be preparing a ritual of Sidi as part of the Udusalamma festival to be held on April 3, which includes a ritual.
The Karnataka Prevention and Elimination of Inhumane Evil Practices and Black Magic Act, 2017, which took effect on January 4, 2020, prohibits rituals that cause bodily injury and involve rods in the body. The ritual, also known as hook-swinging, involves inserting the hook into the flesh of the backs of those selected for the ritual. Later they are tied to the trunk of a tall tree, which is placed on a wooden post.
Dalits and women
The practice is played as part of the Udusalamma festival held once in two years at Hariharpura. All the Dalits selected to perform the Sidi ritual are Dalits. They have to fast for a week before the festival day. Apart from them, many women take part in the procession, whose mouths are closed with iron hooks.
Tree cutting
For the celebration, residents of seven neighboring villages, who all participate in the celebration, select the tree under the guidance of the temple priest and cut it in advance. According to Hariharpura sources, people cut down the tree last week and preparations for the ritual are underway.
‘Will ask for report’
When the issue was brought to the notice of HV Manjunath, deputy director of the social welfare department, he said he would inquire about the preparations for the ritual.
“I will get a report from the local office and inform the police to take appropriate action to stop the rituals prohibited by law,” he said.
The Deputy Director of the Department is the nodal officer to oversee the implementation of the Act.
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