By IANS,
Bangalore : A 100-year-old ritual practised in a Karnataka temple of tossing babies from the temple roof to honour a vow taken by the parents has prompted the authorities to say that the practice would be banned.
Around 200 babies, all under the age of two, were flung down from a concrete structure built on the terrace of the Shanteshwara temple, near Indi town in Bijapur, by the temple priest on Wednesday. The babies fall on a blanket held by temple officials on the ground.
“We are planning to ban the age-old ritual of baby-tossing practiced in a temple in Bijapur district. We have decided to end the cruel practice against infants in the name of rituals,” Neena Nayak, chairperson of Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, told IANS Friday. Bijapur is about 600 km from Bangalore.
Such rituals take place in a few other north Karnataka districts also.
Nayak said: “We have sought a report from the district administration on the entire episode. Once the report is with us, we’ll take necessary action. We’re also planning to summon the temple authorities for an explanation.”
The ritual is said to be going on for the last 100 years, according to town residents. Couples take a vow to perform the ritual if they are blessed with children.
Bijapur Deputy Commissioner V. Shanatraj said he had asked for a report on the ritual.
“We need to be more vigilant and only a ban will end such cruel practice,” Shanatraj told IANS by phone.
The temple trust president Kasugouda Biradar did not find anything amiss in the ritual.
“By doing this, such kids will be healthy, strong, and live longer,” he claimed.