Forums to hold awareness meet on Sept 9

Mangaluru: A consultative meeting held here on Tuesday, under the leadership of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), to organise a large public awareness meeting on Sept 9 against the restrictions on sound systems during public programmes, especially festivals.Leaders meeting at the Balambhat Radhakrishna Hall near Sharavu Temple expressed that incidents have occurred where religious and cultural programmes were disrupted under the pretext of law, with some events even being halted midway, in Dakshina Kannada.Director and theatre artiste Vijaykumar Kodialbail said that the problem persists only in Dakshina Kannada. "Why should only the people of Dakshina Kannada be punished in the name of restrictions? Now they have imposed restrictions on theatre and Yakshagana. If the situation continues, what will happen when Daivaradhane rituals begin in the coastal districts?" he asked.Yakshadhruva Patla Foundation Trust founder president Patla Satish Shetty said theatre, Yakshagana, and Daivaradhane rituals have several years of history. Yakshagana is known as an art form staged only during the night with lights, he said, opposing the restrictions.Dayanand Kattalsar, former chairman of the Karnataka Tulu Academy, said let the authorities concerned ban DJ music and dance during weddings and other ceremonies, however, our traditions should not be hurt in the name of restrictions, he added.VHP activist MB Puranik said that the authorities, who restrict theatre and Yakshagana, may also impose restrictions on annual festivals in temples. "It is not possible to restrict festivals in temples till 8 pm. Festivals of many temples continue till midnight or even until morning. In Bengaluru and Old Mysuru region, theatre programmes are held throughout the night. Hence, why should the authorities impose restrictions only here?" he questioned.RSS activist PS Prakash and VHP activists Sharan Pumpwell, HK Purushotham, and Shivananda Mendon were present. Theatre artistes Devadas Kapikad, Kishore D Shetty and Bhojaraj Vamanjoor participated in the meeting.