Udupi: Koraga Association urge Admin to stop ajalu practice

By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 15 December 2011: Even before the cooling down of the ‘madesnana’ issue taking place in the temples of Udupi and D.K.districts, now the ‘ajalu’ practice issue has created controversies.

Though the rule of ‘Karnataka state ajalu practice ban – 2000’ is in place, on 13th December in a annual Kambala in Vadambettu, Kokkarne Grama Panchayath of Udupi Taluk, the beating of drums (dolu), awaking the whole night, wearing costumes and dancing all these ajalu practice were conducted by the Koraga Community, which has upset the Dalits.

 

 

In Udupi and D.K. districts, during festivals, utsav, deity worship, kambala and during funerals; the practice of beating of drums, eating leftover food on leaves, eating the rice mixed with children’s hairs, pouring oil on the head, dancing with costumes and such practices were known as ‘ajalu practice’, which has been in practice from many years.
Since such practice is viciousness on the Koraga community, the state government had issued ban on these practices on 17th August 2000.

It is now 12 years since the ban in place, the practice has not completely stopped so far. Though eating leftover food on leaves is now stopped, the beating of drums and wearing costumes and dancing is still in practice. In these 12 years many times complaints were given against these practices in Udupi – D.K., but the Police Officers have not registered not even a single case. Instead Police are solving the cases by compromising between the parties, but not implementing the law, said Dinesh Kenjoor of Karnataka – Kerala Koraga Development Community Association Union.

The association has conducted protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office on Wednesday. They have urged the administration to strictly implement the law and have given one week time. In case of no action, then they have said that they will conduct protest movement until it is implemented. The Association leaders Gowri Kenjoor, Kumaradasa Haladi, Dinakara Kenjoor, Kadari Ramesh, Sheena Belmannu, Dinesh Kenjoor, Harish Manipal had led the protest and more than 100 people had participated.