The observer issue 27

The Observer An IIJNM Publication

Lack of awareness about e-waste management across Bengaluru | P 2

Vol 18, Issue 27

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

The Observer

@theweeklyobserver On the web: issuu.com/ theweeklyobserver/docs/the observer

No road being constructed near Sompura Lake bed: urban conservationist | P 2

AAP looks forward to opening its account in Assembly | Dalit outfit flexes political muscle SC must withdraw its order: DSS AAP won’t go for tie-up in a hung assembly

‘Otherwise, dalits will vote against BJP, Congress’

Rayan Mitra

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Ayushi Singh

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he Karnataka Dalit Sangharsha Samithi (DSS) on Tuesday protested against the Supreme Court’s judgment on the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and demanded it be withdrawn.

Led by N. Murthy, about 70 DSS members, carried banners and shouted slogans like “Nyaya Beku” (we want justice) near Mysore Bank Circle on K.G. Road, Bengaluru. Asked what their main demands were, Murthy informed The Observer : “The judgment should be withdrawn. Even genuine cases will be dropped. Previously because of this Act, there was some fear.

Once a complaint is filed, the ac-

Dalit Sangarsh Samithi members and supporters raising slogans to protest against the Supreme Court’s judegement on SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act at Mysore Bank Circle | Credit: Ayushi Singh cused is to be taken into custody immediately. But now, anything can be done to escape action. Accused persons can use money power and get away.”

Like the Centre, the Karnataka government doesn’t favour a review of the ruling. “If the Supreme Court verdict is not repealed, 85% of SC/STs and OBCs will vote against the state and central governments in the upcoming assembly and Lok Sabha elections. The court verdict has done grave injustice to oppressed classes. There will be

unabated protests throughout India unless the Supreme Court reconsiders its verdict,” he said.

People involved in over 15,000 cases of atrocities against SC/ STs will be given bail in the wake of the court judgment, he had claimed.

Protester Sathish Kumar said: “We are here to support the DSS leader. We want the government to review the judgment; otherwise, we will have to end up boycotting the BJP in the upcoming assembly elections.” ayushi.s@iijnm.org

he Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) hopes to make a mark in Karnataka by winning 18 assembly seats in the May 12 elections. It will not join hands with any of the three big parties in a hung assembly.

“We are on the right track,” state AAP convener Prithvi Reddy informed The Observer. “The BJP will face strong opposition from the Congress in the state.

If there is a hung assembly, AAP will not align with any of the three major parties, they say.

“An alliance can happen only between like-minded people. None of the parties seems eligible for that. So we will play the role of strong and responsible opposition,” Reddy said.

He said there are five issues in these elections: corruption (he thinks Karnataka is the most corrupt state in India; absolute misgovernance and collapse of power; farmers’ interests; unequal development; and boosting economic activity.

Civic problems in Dinnur evade resolution Rachel Dammala

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ewage pipes under the bridge over a storm water drain in Dinnur, north Bengaluru, have not been cleaned for a decade, residents of the area say. The BBMP has ignored their pleas to change or clean the six pipes.

“We asked the BBMP umpteen times, only to be ignored,” Shabbir Ahmed, a shopkeeper and resident of the area, informed The Observer. BWSSB Assistant Executive Engineer Channa Basavaiah, however, had a different story to tell. “It is not the residents but we who have found out the problem. They haven’t informed us anything new. We have proposed a change of the pipes with 300cc ones and are awaiting a nod from Cauvery Bhavan (the building on

The construction of the bridge over the storm water drain took more than 3 months leaving commuters with no option but to cross the bridge with the help of passersby. The sewage chambers to be changed lie just beneath this bridge | Credit: Rachel Dammala Kempegowda Road that houses the BWSSB headquarters). Our corporator has informed the BBMP, for we will need their assistance.” The bridge over the storm water drain collapsed last monsoon. It took months to reconstruct it, spelling trouble for

commuters. They had to traverse a shaky makeshift bridge.

As if these problems are not enough, right next to the bridge are cables belonging to BSNL and Airtel hanging dangerously.

The makeshift bridge was put up exactly where these cables

dangle. “We have repeatedly appealed to BSNL and Airtel officials to remove these cables but to no avail,” said K. Raju, an autorickshaw driver and resident of the area. The residents said that they approached Ganesh Rao, corporator of the ward, but he failed to keep his promise to help resolve the issue. When The Observer contacted Ganesh Rao, he said work started almost a month ago, but stopped midway.

“I applied for the tender and work began, but with assembly elections around the corner, nobody comes to work. Once the elections get over, work wills resume soon.”

Anant Binoy, resident, said that months ago, Dinnur Road seemed full of problems. But then things started to change and hoped work will resume. dammala.r@iijnm.org

AAP candidate Mohd Abbas, is optimistic about the party’s prospects. “We are positive about the results. We have done very good ground work. The people of Karnataka appreciate honest politics. We have been going door to door across the constituencies.

Our campaign consists of hard workers putting in their best.”

Though it is up against Karnataka’s three big players, AAP aims to make a debut in the Karnataka assembly. “We look forward to winning a good number of seats. We will have a voice irrespective of the verdict.”

AAP is particularly eyeing the Shantinagar constituency in Bengaluru since incumbent legislator N.A. Harris’ image has taken a beating following his son’s involvement in hooliganism in a cafe.

Karnataka has no history of favouring AAP, in 2014 lok sabha elections AAP lost in all 28 constituencies. BBMP has also not seen any representation from the party. rayan.m@iijnm.org

Create jobs, win our support, says organization Manikankana Sengupta

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arnataka for Employment, an organization focusing on job creation in Karnataka, on Tuesday said it they will support a political party only if focuses on job creation. Ravi Narayan, member of the organization, said: “Contract employees are supposed to get the same benefits as permanent employees do. But that is not the case. They can be fired with just two weeks’ notice. In that case, they are afraid to complain.”

Amurthy, another member of the organization, told The Observer: “If they fail to give jobs like they used to, we will not keep quiet. We are going to question them.” manikankana.s@iijnm.org

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The Observer Tuesday, April 10 , 2018

CITY

Lack of awareness hampers e-waste management across Bengaluru Manikankana Sengupta

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ith a huge number of industries and IT companies, Bengaluru generates a large quanity of electronic waste; it is a major chunk of the waste generated in Bengaluru.

E-waste refers to discarded electronic devices such as computers, mobiles, printers, television sets, etc. However, e-waste management in the city has several flaws. Disposal is a difficult and dangerous task.

Improper disposal of e-waste has severe affects not on only human health but the environment as well. A research paper by Ramachandra T.V. and Saira Varghese K. published by the Indian Institute of Science, titled ‘Environmentally Sound Options For E-wastes Management’, says: “Disposal of e-waste is a particular problem faced in many regions across the globe. Computer wastes that are landfilled produces contaminated leachates which eventually pollute the groundwater. Acids and sludge obtained from melting computer chips, if disposed on the ground causes acidification of soil.” The paper also lists a number of health hazards related to e-waste such as ‘damage to central and peripheral nervous system, blood systems and kidney’, ‘affects brain development in children’, ‘muscle weakness’, ‘damage to

e-waste generation in the city is increasing rapidly but the disposal is improper | Courtesy: Pexels heart, liver, spleen’ and number of health issues.

Tohid Pasha, Manager of E-Firendly Waste Recyclers, an e-waste management firm in Nayandahalli, told “Our firm started in 2014. In spite of so many e-waste management companies in the city the e waste is increasing.e-waste has not been reduced much. Both the common people and the IT companies generate e-waste but they generally do not take any steps to ensure that it reaches the formal e-waste management sector. Instead, it often goes to the informal sector. Most of the companies try to dispose the e-waste instead of passing it over to companies like ours which are

better equipped to deal with it. This results in improper collection and management of e-waste.”

Syed Shahabuddin, Managing Partner at Intro Tech Recycling in Kumbalgodu, said, “We started in 2013 and have been working for 12 years. Every year there is a sharp increase to almost 5-10 per cent, In Karnataka, 90,00095,000 metric tonne of e-waste is generated per year. I don’t think the e-waste management sector has grown sufficiently to deal with this amount of e-waste.

There is a lot of outsourcing and illegal activities such as companies without proper certification receiving the metal for recycling. The major part of

the waste goes to the informal sector. The main problem is the companies, especially the smaller ones, do not get proper information on e-waste and they often do not know what to do with the e-waste that they have produced. They lack awareness about the environmental hazards of e-waste and the harmful contents of it.”

“Few companies have come together to form All India E-Waste Recycling Association and every month plan to conduct an awareness program in city, We have about 40 members now. We focus what is e-waste, how is it generated, and so on”, he added, speaking about what is being done to combat the situation.

Abdul Wahan, company partner at E-Hasiru, another e-waste management firm in the Peenya Industrial Area had similar observations to make.

“We try our best to recycle the e-waste generated in the city.

There are about 58 e-waste recycling and dismantling companies in Bangalore. Earlier, most of the e-waste would go to the informal sector comprising mostly of rag pickers who are not equipped to deal with such waste. But nowadays, the government is stricter so almost 70% of the waste generated is reaching the formal sector. that generate e-waste. manikankana.s@iijnm.org

No road being constructed near Sompura lake bed , says urban conservationist We are planting saplings as part of a campaign Pracheta Panja

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o road is being constructed beside the Sompura lake bed, Vijay Nishanth, says, a volunteer for the BBMP’s Forest Cell.

“The public and the media have a wrong notion that Somapura lake is dying and that the government plans to construct a road over it,” the urban conservationist informed The Observer.

Members of the “Save Sompura Lake” campaign, however, insist that a wide road is being built on the pathway beside the lake.

Nishanth said: “We are doing rejuvenation work on the lake with the help of people in the neighbourhood. There is no plan to build a road along the lake. It is a wrong notion which has been spread and people are reacting to that.”

Sompura lake, a habitat for a lot of birds and fishes, now being a haunt for migratory birds | Courtesy: KPN News “We are planting saplings built alongside the lake ap beside the lake,” he added. peared in the media in March.

According to Seshagiri Rao The Sompura lake, in Sarjapur, and 26 other dying water bodies Maddipati, a member of ‘Save are part of the rejuvenation plan. Sompura Lake’, the length of Last year, lake experts and the road encroaching on the lake activists filed a police com- area is 645 meters. The “enplaint after they found gar- croachment” has reduced more bage dumped into the lake. than 1.5 acres of the lake area.

Campaign member Kshithij Authorities later claimed that throwing of trash had reduced. Urs, who has lived in BenEnvironmentalists protested galuru for many years, teaches after reports of a road being public policies in National Law

School of India, said: “A com plaint had been raised with chief secretary Ratna Prabha and minor irrigation secretary R. Rudraiah. It is difficult to stop such encroachment without government taking action.”

The Sompura lake, spread over 52 acres, is a habitat for a lot of birds, especially grey hornbills, and many species of fish.

Encroachments on water bodies are common in Bengaluru, once known for its lakes. Most of the lakes have vanished due to encroachment and construction activity. The city once had 280 lakes. Of these, seven cannot be traced, a like number are reduced to small pools of water, 18 have been encroached on by slum-dwellers and private parties, 14 have dried up and been leased out by the government.

The Bangalore Development Authority has created residential layouts on 28 lakes. The remaining lakes are in a fairly advanced state of deteriotion.

Sompura lake is one of them pracheta.p@iijnm.org

Twitterati’s take on Bharat Bandh

Mihir @kashmihiriyat Apparently, today is a #BharatBandh too, organised by General category people. Now open News Channels and observe the contrast in coverage (quantity & Narrative) from that of the Last #bandh held by #Dalits. Some people are entitled to hold protests, some are not!

Navneet @Barodian_ Dalits have done bandh in protest of SC order of change in actocity act. Now the upper cast have called #bandh against the bandh which was done by Dalit communities.

Both don’t know what’s positive about doing Bandh and all this !!

Mirchi TJ@MirchiTJ #Sports has so much of potential in #India that can open innumerable opportunities for us and we are stuck thinking at ways to #bandh it all-from all possible fronts now and then.

Debasish Panda @tweet_debasishp #bharatbandh.

This real #bandh without any political party involved and real voice of #Indian we know this voice will be suppressed by political party for dirty politics and #vote bank.#no to #Reservation . No to #caste #Reservation free #India. No to #SCSTAct .

NEWS IN BRIEF

National: BSP leader Himendra Gautam painted a statue of BR Ambedkar back to blue in Badaun district Uttar Pradesh.

It had been painted saffron, creating an uproar.

International: A 4.7-magnitude earthquake rocked central Italy, at around 5.11 am (0311 GMT), with its epicentre in Mucchia, causing minor damage but no serious injuries to anyone.

Karnataka: Commerce and management students of Bangalore University have filed a complaint with the vice-chancellor about their classes not being conducted regularly. They said that though a timetable is in place, professors have to be called to take their classes.

Business: The government of India is working on a project to use latest satellite images to find economic and various other development indicators for better decision-making. NITI Aayog is planning to collaborate with IITDelhi for the same.

Sports: Heena Sidhu wins India’s 11th gold medal, in the women’s 25 metres pistol final.

OBSERVER TEAM Editor: G.Manashaa Page Layout: Pracheta Panja, Rachel, Athul M Reporter: Manikankana S, Rayan Mitra, Ayushi Singh

The Observer

SPORTS SUPPLEMENT

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

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Big Ben’s Incredible Rise Ben Stokes is a phenomenon and the remarkable thing is that he’s only just begun, says Abhishek Sarkar

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after a shock loss to Bangladesh.

In the 2016 World T20 championship, England finished as runner up after they lost the match from a winning situation. He was at the receiving end when he gave away 24 runs in the final over against West Indies and cost England the tournament.

Hindustan Times

e was the ‘most valuable player’ of the Indian Premier League 2017.

He was sold for a staggering Rs.14.5 crores to Rising Pune Supergiants and was instrumental in their journey to the IPL finals last year. This season too, having been sold for a mammoth Rs.12.5 crores to former champions Rajasthan Royals, he’s once again the season’s highest-priced player, “Stokes’s striking ability is unmatched in international cricket.

Add to that his bowling and fielding, he will arguably be the most important asset to the Rajsthan Royals side,” says Dhruv, a diehard Rajsthan Royals fan. But it hasn’t always been all smooth sailing for Ben Stokes.

Stokes moved to England from New Zealand at the age of 12 after his father Gerard, a former rugby player and coach, was appointed head coach of a rugby-league club there. He took an early interest in cricket and started playing for the Cockermouth Cricket Club and also won the local cricket-league Meagen Cup there as a 15-year old in 2006. Ben stokes made his first-class debut for Durham

Stokes’ off-field controversies have tended to overshadow his cricketing achievements

against Marylebone Cricket Club in 2009. He scored a half century and took a wicket in that game, which was played at Abu Dhabi.

After his superb performances in the English domestic circuit, he was picked to join the national side in 2011 against Ireland.

It was a mixed start for the allrounder. The next year turned out one to forget, as a series of injuries, lack of form and disciplinary issues kept him out of the England team. But, 2013 was the turning point. He was picked for

England’s squad against Australia in the prestigious Ashes series, markinghisTest debut. Stokes finished the series as the third-highest run getter with 279 runs, the second-highest wicket taker with 15 wickets, including his then career best of 6-99 in the 5th test.

Then came 2015, when he helped England win the Ashes 32 with his career-best 6-39. But aneven greater feat that year came against South Africa in Cape Town, when he became the English player to score the fastest

double century; it was also the second-fastest double century in the history of test cricket.

His clinical bowling in the series announced his arrival as an all-rounder. A ben stokes fan Allen Jacob lauded his talent by saying “As a player stokes has grown significantly over the years. Starting off as a young boy who just wanted to play he has matured into the world’s leading all rounder.” In 2015, the England cricket team was knocked out of the World Cup in the group stage

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rilliant as he was on the field, Stokes off field controversies have tended to overshadow his cricketing achievements.

Last year he was involved in a brawl outside a pub in England and as a result, he was banned by the English Cricket Board for five months. This was catastrophic both for the player and the team as Stokes missed out on major tours, including the 2018 Ashes series where England was blanked 4-0.

Ben Stokes’ temperament though is laudable. He accepted responsibility for his unruly conduct and served out the ban. He then worked harder and returned a stronger individual. Once a hot headed guy, he has now transformed himself into a mature player.

A True Champion Kevin Pietersen is a cricketing hero and a conservationist, writes Conrad Deep Dias

Cricket365

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t was 28th of November 2004 when Kevin Pietersen first represented England in International Cricket. The South Africa-born cricketer made his debut against Zimbabwe, batted in three innings and ended up with an average of over 100. He continued his form continued against South Africa as well where he scored three centuries in five matches. The crowd in South Africa called him a traitor. He answered the crowd with a brilliant century in Bloemfontein after which he kissed the three lions on his helmet. The world knew that Kevin Pietersen had arrived.

During the early part of his career, KP, as he’s fondly known, was always considered to be a hard-hitting batsman that every bowler feared. He was even better in the longest format of the game.

KP has played some of the best Test innings in the history of English cricket. No one can forget the 2005 Ashes series, where he

Pietersen is one of the most gifted cricketers England ever produced

scored his maiden test century against Australia. A time when Australia was at the zenith of their game, KP did not spare anyone.

He smashed the likes of Brett Lee, Glen McGrath and Shane Warne all over the park. He even scored a match-winning 158 runs and England eventually won the Ashes that year. With the arrival of T20 cricket on the international stage,

there were very few cricketers in the world who could play better than KP. With an unorthodox batting stance and his famous switch hit, KP was always one of the toughest batsmen to bowl to. KP captained England won its first ever ICC tournament, the T20 World Cup in 2010 and scored a matchwinning 47runs against Australia

in the finals. His consistency won him the Player of the Tournament Award.

He was not just a good batsman but was also an agile fielder and his off-spin bowling was more than handy. Although he played more than 100 matches all over the world, Pietersen’s didn’t perform particularly well in the subcontinent.

His first tour of India in 2006 was singularly unimpressive.

When England toured India in 2012, India thought it would be a walk in the park. But KP had different plans. He scored a magnificent 186 in Mumbai on a wicket suited to spin bowling. Although India won the first test in Ahmedabad, England eventually went on to win the series.

Kevin Pietersen played 104 tests for England and scored 8,181 runs at an average of 47.28. He was destined to be one of England’s greatest batsman. But after former England captain Andrew

Strauss was appointed as the Director of English Cricket Board in 2015, KP was dropped from the team and he could never really make a comeback. It was the politics of the ECB that did KP in.

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espite all odds, he never really stopped playing cricket. KP is probably one of the most loved and respected cricketers around the world. He has probably played in every T20 league, be it the Indian Premier League, Big Bash League, Pakistan Super League or the Caribbean Premier League.

So, what’s next for the legend?

He tweeted that the second innings will be saving the world’s remaining rhinos from extinction.

His initiative, Save our Rhinos in Africa & India (SORAI), spreads awareness on the threats torhinos.

From destroying bowlers on the field to saving the rhinos in the wild, KP has proved to be a great cricketer and a great human being.

The Observer

Arts & Society SUPPLEMENT

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

4

How Dance Liberates ‘Tandav’ provides a platform for children with special needs to showcase their talent, says Arlene Mathew

Smileys

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mileys, a Bangalore based NGO, has taken it upon itself to prove stereotypes about people with disabilities wrong. Through the concept of Tandav, or inclusive dance, it strives to bridge the gap between the differently-abled and society, using art as the medium of communication. Tandav crucially enhances the visibility of differently-abled children in society and promotes both awareness and appreciation of their unique talents.

Inclusive dance, as the name suggests, includes every single person involved in the dance, including the viewer, irrespective of their ability or disability. In short, everyone both gives and takes.

There is no competition, merely participation. The power of dance to entertain and more importantly unite people is the main driving force behind Tandav, named after the divine dance performed by the Hindu god Shiva.

Founded by Vishnu and Vishal Soman from Kerala, the NGO has been actively involved in conduct-

Smileys brings together volunteers and children with special needs and gives them the opportunity to learn from each other

ing Tandavs throughout India’s cities for the past few years. Bengaluru and Delhi so far have witnessed Tandav, which was first organized in 2014. The most recent Tandav was held on 17th December 2017 at Whitefield in Bangalore.

“The event was really entertaining for the children, as the music and movement helped them quite a lot. It was quite liberating to watch them come out of their shells and try to copy the steps performed by the volunteers,” said Meenakshi Kavassery, pro-

gramme coordinator at Bubbles, a home for children with autism.

“Nothing brings people closer than dance -- irrespective of their disabilities, the children learn to lose their inhibitions and mingle freely with the crowd.” Children from Bubbles had participated in the Tandav held last year.

Over 1,000 people turned up at the event, which saw the audience dance with children with disabilities. The dance was the perfect channel for the children to articulate their thoughts and abilities, as they looked very much at home up

on stage, the attention fixated solely on them. Volunteers also taught the visitors ‘bhangra’ as a part of the event.

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he event is a great opportunity for children who otherwise do not get such exposure to perform in front of such a large crowd. “The idea of including the public in the program helps the children to interact with the community, which goes a long way in helping them,” said Meenakshi. Creativity breeds creativity. Tandav has inspired the

children and volunteers who participated to begin ventures of their own. More than 10 volunteers who were coordinators of Tandav have started their own volunteer groups. Five volunteers with disability who helped organise Tandav currently spread awareness through dance.

“We.use the concept of inclusive volunteering-where we involve the public in their activities, Using art forms such as dance and music help bridge the gap in our society,” said Shashi Kumar, an event organizer at Smileys.

Brahmarathotsava in Gokarana This year saw one of the biggest turnouts ever for the annual celebration, says Nithya Mandyam The Brahmaratha, which is about 70 feet tall, is decorated with cloth pieces in four colours.

The decoration for the ratha starts one week before the main day and everyone can help to decorate the Ratha. A unique feature of the celebration is when people throw bananas into a small opening of the Brahmaratha, which is believed to directly reach Lord Shiva, whose idol sits in the centre of the ratha.

After the main homa (prayer) that takes place in the temple, all the senior priests of the temple

climb onto the ratha with a support of a ladder. When the priests come near the small opening of the ratha and give a nod to the person standing under the ratha, he breaking the tender coconuts on the wheels of the Ratha and simultaneously the Dollu kunita (people playing drums while dancing) start performing and the Ratha starts its journey.

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Nithya

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hants of ‘Om Namah kind,” said Mahesh Ramakrishna France, the UK and the US were Shivay, Har Har Ma- Adimoley, priest of Sri Kshetra dressed in Indian traditional hadev’ rent the air of the Gokarna. clothing and wore jasmine flowcolorfully decorated Ratha Beedi ers in their hair.

Every major temple in Kar(Chariot street) of Gokarana, nataka has a Ratha Beedi where Nayana Mariam, a spiritual Karnataka, where the Maha- during the annual temple fair the healer from London, wore a balesh Mahotsava was cele- temple’s main chariot would be beautiful red and green saree with brated by more than 35,000 paraded carrying the deity. The a sun shaped nose pin and a garpeople from across the world. chariot could be pulled by as land of jasmine around her neck.

The Ratha Beedi was decorated many as 10,000 people.

She is a currently residing in with flowers and women had Shopkeepers were more than Gokarana to witness the Rathotdrawn rangoli in front of their happy to welcome people into sava. “The vibration in Gokarna homes. The entire town of their shops to watch the Brah- is immense and the Brahmaratha Gokarna came to a standstill durmaratha being pulled by the was a sight to watch. I love the ing the final Rathotsava. This cel- devotees. Devotees from Russia, energy here,” she exulted. ebration to mark Shivarathi begins on 6th February and continues for 11 days. The Brahmarathotsava falls on the 11th day, two days after Shivarathri. “This is the only place where Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva come together in a temple premises, its one a People follow the Rath along Ratha beedi (Left) and Dollu Kunitha performers celebrate

K Hedge, chief administrative officer of Mahabaleshwar Temple Gokarna, said that year the festival had attracted record crowds.

He emphasized that this is one temple where in there’s no discrimination whatsoever on the basis of caste, creed or sex, and anyone can visit and be a part of celebration.

“Every year there is a special feeling that comes with the Brahmarathotsava,” said Hedge.