What would be state's stand on 'Made Made Snana' in anti-Superstition bill?
- The ritual involves people from lower caste rolling over the leftover food served to brahmins
- They believe that this cures them of skin disease, infertility and also shed their past karma
- The ritual has been banned by the Supreme Court and the High court has suggested for a modified version of the ritual, 'Ede Snana'
FollowWith the State government all set to table the controversial bill - The Karnataka Evil, Inhuman and Superstitious Practices Prevention and Eradication Bill - speculations are rife whether the controversial practice 'Made Made snana' will be included in the bill.
The ritual is performed at the Kukke Subrahmanya temple premises in Dakshina Kannada district during the Champa Shasthi festival for three days. The ritual involves people from 'lower castes' including those from SC/ST rolling on plantain leaves with leftover food served to Brahmins in the Subrahmanya temple as they believe that it may cure skin diseases. Not just that some also believe that by performing the ritual, it would clear their past karma, cure infertility and so on.
Also read: 5 superstitious beliefs that made Karnataka infamous once
However, the practice had come under severe criticism from rationalists. But those who parttake in the ritual had claimed that they voluntarily perform the ritual without any force either from temple or anyone.
Since the Congress government has come to power, the issue has gained a lot of significance forcing the government to consider banning it. The issue had reached the High Court in 2012 where it was stayed but was later sent for a modification. The modification was instead of rolling over food leftover by Brahmins, believers could roll over 'naivedya' food offered to the diety. The court said that since this food was not tasted or partially eaten by anyone, believers can practice the ritual. However, in 2014, the Supreme Court banned the ritual of 'Made Made Snana' and 'urulu seve' (offering to god through rolling over).
While the Apex Court had stayed the ritual, there were reports that it was still practiced. However, now, the state government's The Karnataka Evil, Inhuman and Superstitious Practices Prevention and Eradication Bill or popularly known as the anti-superstition bill may include the 'Made Made Snana' in the banned rituals list. The bill has been drafted on the lines of Prevention and Eradicaton of Human Sacrifices and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013 implemented by the Maharashtra government.
Apart from 'Made Made Snana', the Bill is expected to curb evil practices like human sacrifice, exorcism, parading women in THE naked and killing animals. Other practices to be banned are whipping people, sexual exploitation by invoking supernatural powers, banamati, 'Sidi', shaving widows' heads and also 'Panktibedha' - where brahmin devotees are served food separate from other devotees. However, the bill may not interfere with astrology and Vaastu. Various universities are offering courses in astrology as it is considered ancient science and Vaastu is included in architecture, these days.
