After threatening to turn into a flare-up between two sects, the “Adda Pallakki” Utsava of Rambhapuri Mutt pontiff Veerasomeshawara Jagadguru went off peacefully on Monday evening.
However, pontiffs led by Mahanta Shivacharya Swami of Sulphul Mutt continued with their hunger strike at the Deputy Commissioner’s office against the pallaki till the event ended. Police prevented some of their supporters from reaching the venue as a precaution.
The event had created a heated debate about the practice of a man being carried by other men on a palanquin. The protesters dubbed this as ‘’slavery’’.
The Adda Pallakki commenced at 3.30 pm from the Puja Gruha of the seer and reached the ‘Manava Dharma Mantap’ where the Dasara Darbar was held. The Kedara Peetha pontiff Bhimashankarlinga, who staged a televised dharna in-front of Chief Minister Siddramaiah’s residence demanding the conduct of the pallakki also participated by coming in a paadayatra, though his status is equal to the Rambhapuri religious leader.
After the pallakki reached to the venue, both pontiffs blessed the devotees. Over 50,000 people thronged to Jewargi to witness the event. Gulbarga Deputy Commissioner N V Prasad and SP Amit Singh were personally present and supervised security arrangements till evening.
Police conducted a flag march on Sunday evening and over 1,000 police personnel camped in and around the town. All vehicles entering Jewargi were checked. Mahanta Shivacharya said their fast was victory of the Constitution and all progressive thinking people.
He claimed that the decision to reduce route of pallakki in Jewargi and absence of Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge and Bidar MP Dharam Singh at the ritual, were victories.