Hubballi: For the many Lingayat seers and pontiffs in North Karnataka, the Covid-19 lockdown was the best opportunity to counsel and de-addict alcoholics. Their reinvigorated campaign was successful in spreading happiness in households which otherwise bore the brunt of violence perpetrated by members addicted to liquor.
Mallappa (name changed), gained from such counselling. The youth was forced to stay away from alcohol due to the lockdown and started serving at the Dingaleshwar Math in Balehosur. His abstinence ended on Monday when liquor stores reopened after 46 days.
“I received nine such complaints in one day from our devotees’ community. Utilising this forced occasion, we had started counselling devotees to de-addict themselves. But our efforts went in vain,” said Dingaleshwar Swami.
Like him, many seers and pontiffs also feel that their efforts during the lockdown have gone down the drain. They are unhappy with the government’s decision to reopen liquor shops. These religious leaders were hoping that the government would use this opportunity to ban liquor forever since there was a semblance of peace and prosperity in several homes as alcoholics abandoned their addiction.
Guru Mahant Swami of Chittaragi Santhan Math in Inkal said resumption of liquor sale suddenly pushed family members of alcoholics to sufferings. He said there had been incidents when men sold their wife’s saris, mangalsutra and even stole money to buy liquor. “It’s very painful to listen to such stories. Many families once again face domestic problems due to resumption in the sale of liquor,” he said, urging the government to ban liquor.
Siddharam Swami of Tontadarya Math in Gadag also made the same demand and urged the government to consider the issue from a social perspective rather than economic.
Mallappa (name changed), gained from such counselling. The youth was forced to stay away from alcohol due to the lockdown and started serving at the Dingaleshwar Math in Balehosur. His abstinence ended on Monday when liquor stores reopened after 46 days.
“I received nine such complaints in one day from our devotees’ community. Utilising this forced occasion, we had started counselling devotees to de-addict themselves. But our efforts went in vain,” said Dingaleshwar Swami.
Like him, many seers and pontiffs also feel that their efforts during the lockdown have gone down the drain. They are unhappy with the government’s decision to reopen liquor shops. These religious leaders were hoping that the government would use this opportunity to ban liquor forever since there was a semblance of peace and prosperity in several homes as alcoholics abandoned their addiction.
Guru Mahant Swami of Chittaragi Santhan Math in Inkal said resumption of liquor sale suddenly pushed family members of alcoholics to sufferings. He said there had been incidents when men sold their wife’s saris, mangalsutra and even stole money to buy liquor. “It’s very painful to listen to such stories. Many families once again face domestic problems due to resumption in the sale of liquor,” he said, urging the government to ban liquor.
Siddharam Swami of Tontadarya Math in Gadag also made the same demand and urged the government to consider the issue from a social perspective rather than economic.
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