Mangaluru: Following a public complaint about sound pollution, the Yakshagana programme being staged at Mahalingeshwara temple in Kavoor and Pandeshwar was stopped by the police for a while on Monday, March 4. This temporary stoppage, brought a lot criticism the police’s way. The programme in both places was allowed to resume only after the intervention of local MLAs
Bhajan and Yakshgana programmes were held at both Kavoor and Pandeshwara Mahalingeshwara temple on Monday night on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri. Reportedly, some members of the public complained to the police about sound pollution and demanded the programmes be stopped. Based on the complaint, police rushed to both places and allegedly asked the organisers to stop the programme. However, devotees and members of the audience who were enjoying the programme objected to this move of the police vehemently. Heated arguments also were heard between police and public.
Meanwhile, local MLAs Vedavyas Kamath and Dr Bharath Shetty rushed to the spot and asked the police not to stop the programme as it was a very sensitive issue. With the intervention of MLAs, police allowed to the organisers to continue Yakshagana programme, sources said.
When contacted, Mangaluru North MLA Dr Bharath Shetty, confirmed the incident. Speaking to newskarnataka.com he said, ” I had been to Kavoor Panchalingeshwara temple when locals informed me about the police intervention to stop Yakshagana programme. However, police clarified that they had only asked only to minimise the volume. However, locals had a different version – they complained about police intervention to get the programme stopped. I asked the police not to object the programme as it is the question of religious sentiment too”, he said.
