‘Pujas in Nalin’s home not political’

Mangaluru: Pujas, havans and religious rituals being held in BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel’s ancestral house at Kunjadi in Palthadi village in Dakshina Kannada has nothing to do with politics, said BJP leaders.
Amid speculations that the pujas and havans were being performed to ward off misfortune and bring good luck soon after the poll debacle for the party, Kateel himself has clarified that it was part of the annual rituals in his ‘tharavadu mane’ (ancestral house). Kateel, sharing the pictures of puja on social media, wrote, “I have participated in an annual puja programme along with family members at our ‘tharavadu mane’ at Kunjadi in Palthadi village.”
BJP Dakshina Kannada district president Sudarshan Moodbidri said that the ancestral house of Kateel holds 12 Durga Namaskara pujas every year. “The ancestral house of Kateel has been holding Durga Namaskara Puja, Satyanarayana Puja, Chandika Yaga and other rituals for daivas regularly. This year, Kateel was not able to participate in rituals held in the past few months due to elections and other hectic political activities. Since Kateel has now found some time, he participated in all rituals,” he said, adding that Kateel will be participating in the Chandika Yaga on Sunday.
The ancestral house of Kateel follows the tradition of holding Durga Namaskara puja every month. The family members worship ‘Jaladurge’ in the ancestral house. The family also holds special puja rituals for 9 days during Navaratri.