Dignity of deities to be maintained at any cost: Virbhadra Singh - Shimla Now

While presiding over the International Kullu Dussehra Committee meeting here today, Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh said that those who were seen around roaming and carrying symbols of deities on roads or elsewhere and seeking money from the passerby’s were required to be brought to book and action be initiated against them as they were unnecessarily defaming the culture and also the ‘Devtas’ by playing with the faith of the people.

The Dussehra festival is being celebrated from 3rd to 9th October, 2014.

He said earlier, the local deities were carried on head or in traditional palanquins by ‘Kardars’ amidst beating of drums by musicians (Bajantris) with their traditional instruments, but it was sad to see few people in group of two or three sitting on the roadside and in public places thereby defaming the name of deities and asking for money.

“This is not our tradition and such practice needed to be curbed which makes fun of our ‘Dev Sanskriti’ and lowers the dignity of deities”, said he, adding that immediate steps be taken to stop it.

The Chief Minister stressed the need for rural games during the festival and said that they should be named as ‘Grameen Khel’ and should be made competitive so that rural games in the State may get the required fillip. He said that rural games as kabaddi, volleyball etc were to be promoted, adding that without disturbing the green carpet of the ground separate grounds be made behind ‘Dev Sadan’ in Kullu for organizing the volleyball competitions in which teams from outside the state were also likely to participate.

“Temples are part of our culture and it is our duty to preserve it,” said Shri Virbhadra Singh adding that the government was considering to provide fire arms licenses to the chowkidars or the caretaker of the temples on demand.

Referring to the revolving fund, he said that it was only for those temples which were vested under the Government or were  under the occupancy tenants (Mujaras). Adequate funding will be done for upkeep of such temples and sufficient financial assistance would be provided to them, even if the fixed limit increases beyond a certain point, the government will make sure that adequate assistance was given to these temples. “I don’t want that old temples be closed or there is no one to even light incense sticks or lamp in front of the idols of our Gods”, he asserted.

Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Kullu, Shri Rakesh Kanwar apprised the Chief Minister of the events being held during the Dussehra festivity and the arrangements made for the same.

He said that the district administration has planned to organize folk dance competition consisting of more than 5000 women in their traditional apparel which was likely to be included in Limca Book of records.

He said that two tents each had been provided to the Kardars who come along with the deities in Kullu Dusshera. He said that adequate arrangements had been made for maintaining cleanliness and the committee will provide bus facilities to the people after the cultural nights.

MLA’s Shri Maheshwar Singh, Sh. Karan Singh, Sh.Govind Ram and Shri Khub Ram, MP Shri Ramswaroop, Zila Parishad Chairman. Kullu Shri Hari Singh, Chairman Kardar Sangh, Shri Daulat Ram, Chief Secretary, Shri P. Mitra, Additional Chief Secretary, (ACS) Sh. VC Pharka, ACS Language Art and Culture, Smt Upma Chaudhry, Principal Secretary, Revenue Sh Tarun Shridhar, DGP, Sh Sanjay Kumar and other senior officers of the State Government were present on the occasion.