Shivamogga
A profound sense of community and spiritual restoration swept through Belur town in Karnataka’s Hassan district on September 22, as residents converged to conduct sacred purification rituals at a local Ganesha temple. This heartfelt act followed a distressing incident on the night of September 20, when the revered idol within the temple was allegedly desecrated.
Devotees, carrying water from the historic Channakeshava temple’s pond, meticulously cleansed the defiled premises. Following this act of spiritual renewal, priests led solemn ‘homas’ (fire rituals) and offered special prayers to Lord Ganesha. Several local dignitaries, including Belur MLA H.K. Suresh, stood in solidarity with the community during these ceremonies.
Community Rises in Peaceful Protest
Beyond the purification, the residents, spearheaded by MLA H.K. Suresh and former MLA K.S. Lingesh of the JD(S), organized a protest march to condemn the sacrilegious act. The procession moved from the Channakeshava temple to Basaveshwara Circle, a powerful demonstration of collective sorrow and resolve.
Authorities have swiftly identified and apprehended the individual allegedly responsible for the desecration. On September 21, Hassan police arrested Leelamma, a woman from Hassan town, who is accused of placing footwear on the Ganesha idol. It has been reported that the woman is believed to be suffering from mental instability.