The residents of Chakenahalli performed ‘Sidi’ (hook-swinging) ritual as part of Udusalamma festival at Hariharapura in Holenarsipur taluk on Saturday, despite instructions from the taluk administration against the ritual. A couple of Dalit men from Chakenahalli got iron hooks inserted into their bodies early in the morning. Later they dangled from a tree trunk mounted on a wooden pedestal in front of Udusalamma Temple at Hariharapura.
Hassan district unit of Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti had appealed to the district administration to stop the ritual, citing that the Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Act, 2017, prohibits such acts. Holenarasipur Tahsildar K.R. Srinivas had held talks with the devotees and appealed to them not to continue with the ritual.
However, the efforts of the taluk administration failed as the ritual continued on the day.
Mr. Srinivas told The Hindu, “We tried to convince the devotees, but they have a strong will to continue with the ritual”.