Sea of women throng to Belthangady for Navachandika yaga

Mangalore: Sea of women and girls gathered at Belthangady ground where 1008 married women performed Pujas at 11 Agni Kundas (fire place) and took a firm decision to protect women. Several thousand people thronged to Belthangady maidan to take part in Durga Nava chandika yaga which was organised to spread awareness among the people about safety of women.

Soujanya, resident of Pangala and student of SDM college went missing on 2013 October 9. Her body was recovered from a bush on a hill on October 10. She was raped and brutally murdered. In Esha Vitala swamiji’s leadership Nava chandika yaga was organised on Friday as her Soujanya’s rape and murder case completes one year, but still the real culprits haven’t been traced.

Nava Chandika yaga is a religious ritual and has a history of about 1500 years. The intention of organizing this yaga was to safeguard the women and provide her equal rights in the society.

11 agni kundas (place for fire) were constructed in Belthangady ground, 11 seers will perform the yaga. 1008 married women will offer Havissu (final offering in Yaga). The purpose of the Yaga is women’s safety and welfare of the world. Around 25,000 people are expected to participate in the programme.

The yaga will be conducted under the leadership of K.S Nithyananda seer of Chikmagalur, 11 seers will be present on this occasion. Main priest of Kollur temple, Manjunath Adiga, Esha Vitala swamiji of Kemaru Sandipani Sadhanashram, Vidyaprasanna Swamiji of Subrahmanya, Balekudru Narasimhashrama swamiji, Gurudevananda swamiji of Odiyur, Maatanandamayi, Mukthananda swamiji of Karinja, Kolluru Dharma peeta seer, Sadhvi Geethanandini, Maravur Nithyanandashrama swamiji, Dharma Vratananada swamiji of Ramakrishna Ashram, Shashikanta Mani swamiji of Balekodi mutt and many others participated in the yaga.

Yaga performed by women:

Only women were permitted to enter the Yagashala (place were yaga is performed). All women were present in Yagashala till the Purnahuti (last offering) and men remained outside. Thousands of women and teenage girls were present during the yaga.

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`Justice has been denied for the family of Soujanya. It’s already two years and real rapists and murderers of Soujanya are roaming freely. Navachandika yaga has been organised to safeguard the rights of the women and awareness. This holy ritual will probably stop crime against women and innocent girls like Soujanya. No girl should go through a situation Soujanya been through. That’s why this yaga has been organised.’

Navachandika yaga is a huge success. Police department had arranged a tight security across Belthangady. As this was the first ever yaga of its kind people from farther places arrived to Belthangady.  Parents of Soujanya also participated in the yaga and seek peace to their child’s soul.