With housewarming on new moon day, couple thumbs nose at beliefs

MANDYA: It was a housewarming ceremony with a difference: the ceremony was held on a Tuesday, on the day of Bhimana Amavasya (dark moon), considered inauspicious, and the holy lamps inside were lit by five widows.

Defying ancient ritualistic beliefs that the housewarming ceremony should not be held during the month of Aashada, Bharat Raj, a farmer leader and his wife Devi, social activist and district president of the Janavadi Mahila Sanghatane entered their new house in Nelamakanahalli village of Malavalli taluk. The progressive couple was attempting to show that these practices, which are strictly prohibited by the Hindu religion, are just blind beliefs.

Nidumamidi mutt pontiff Veerabhadra Channamalla Swamiji, who has earned fame as a progressive seer, blessed the couple and appreciated their initiative in fearlessly breaking this ritualistic beliefs. He has overwhelmed when he heard the couple had allowed widows to perform some rituals which is not allowed during auspicious ceremonies.

"There are thousands of unjustified and untenable blind beliefs in our religion which have belittled sections of people and women. There are no auspicious and inauspicious moments in our life. Bharat Raj and Devi, who have been fighting social evils are now role models for all those fighting blind beliefs and black magic," Nidumamidi said. The seer said "God cannot be a tool to fool the hapless and innocent people and exploit them. "It is very unfortunate that nowadays, people are exploiting the masses by creating fear in God's name. Pity is a majority of educated people are falling prey to these beliefs," Nidumamidi said.

Tuesday muhurat

BELAGAVI: Generally, moviemakers choose an auspicious day to begin a project but the team of Dhangadi, a Kannada film, started shooting in Belagavi on Tuesday, considered an inauspicious day, to spread the message against superstitions.

It was especially inauspicious as it was a new moon day and generally, no project is taken up on this day of the Hindu calendar. However, director-actor Sidram Karnik opted for Bhimana Amavasya, and the muhurat clap for the first scene was to done by Satish Jharkiholi, a crusader against superstitions. But with the latter in Bengaluru in view of the death of Rakesh Siddaramaiah, two nomad girls did the honours. According to Sidram Karnik, it's a different movie with a strong storyline and a message on superstitions, which prompted the team to choose an inauspicious day to start. The movie, under the banner of Parameshwari Arts, will shoot in Belagavi, Vijayapura and Bagalkot districts of North Karnataka. In Belagavi, it covers Gokak and Godachinamalki waterfalls and old Rajwada at Raibag.

Producer Surendra Ugare said director Sidram Karnik will play the lead role in the movie. Actors Kanakalaxmi, Shanti, Rajeshwari and Divya are the new faces making their debut.

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