Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple honors widows at Diwali

Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple honors widows at Diwali

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Oct 26, 2011: The Gokarnanatheshwara Temple of Kudroli organized a felicitation ceremony for widows who could not attend a similar ceremony organized by the temple during the Dasara season.

The widows were invited to participate in the Chandika Homa and pull a silver chariot around the temple premises. They even performed aarati.

Malathi, the wife of Janardhana Poojary, the managing trustee of the temple, took an oath with the other women that they would continue performing poojas and rituals even after the death of their husbands. They also pledged that they will continue wearing mangalasutras and vermillion on their foreheads.

The purpose of this ceremony was to invite widows to participate in auspicious ceremonies and to convey the message of social reformation.

Later, Janardhan Poojary informed reporters that he wants the use of the word “widow” to be banned and replaced with a word that is more dignified and respectful. He urged the central as well as the state government to respect women irrespective of their status and behave respectfully toward widows. He also stated that husbands never die; only their bodies go away.

Poojary also presented sarees, blouse pieces, kumkum, and sweets to all women who had lost their husbands.