Cannabis grown in north Karnataka villages supplied to religious institutions

BELAGAVI: Against the backdrop of an explosive drug scandal that has turned into a major controversy owing to the involvement of Kannada film stars, police across the state are cracking down on growth and sale of narcotic substances. However, cultivation of cannabis, the plant that provides the basic material for the preparation of ganja, is common in some North Karnataka villages, where the leaves are supplied to religious institutions.
A farmer in Yadgir said that he had been cultivating cannabis on his fields in Raichur and Yadgir districts. “The cannabis grown on my farms, I supply to temples of the Aruda sect, and the devotees and the priests there have always been grateful to and their blessings keep me happy. I have faced some legal trouble, but I have no problems continuing with cultivation of cannabis,” the farmer said.
The Tinthini Mouneshwara temple in Yadgir, Handi Badaganath in Belagavi and Amba Mutt in Sindhanur in Raichur are among the shrines in the surroundings of which growth of cannabis is prevalent. Gangadhar Nayak, a member of the Tinthini Mouneshwara temple committee, refused to divulge the names of those who supplied ganja to the shrine during the celebrations of its annual fair. “The locals are passionate about ganja. This is not the only temple; there are many such institutions where weed is used. Cannabis grass is sacred to us,” Nayak said.
A source familiar with the origins of the traditional use of ganja said that in those North Karnataka villages, where there is a practice of providing room to the Sharana saints, the habit of cultivating cannabis was prevalent. “But it is cultivated for a purely spiritual purpose to be given as prasadam to the saints in their homes. Moreover, ganja is not addictive. The current controversy around the substance is unnecessary,” he said.
Moreover, the use of marijuana is fairly common at the Shishunala Mutt in Haveri. KG Devaraj, Haveri superintendent of police, admitted to being aware of the practice. “I have been working towards stopping this practice. Cannabis is transported to Haveri from Hubballi and Saundatti in Belagavi. Before I took charge, it was sourced locally. But we are cracking down on cultivation of cannabis, mostly grown in Hanagal taluk in sugarcane fields,” Devaraj told TOI.
Belagavi SP Laxman Nimbaragi said that they had been acting against those engaged in the cultivation of cannabis in the district. “If we receive complaints against religious institutions in this regard, we will initiate action against them as well,” he said.