Davanagere, Feb. 12 -- Ahead of the annual Durga Jatre festival, Hindu organisations in central Karnataka have intensified calls for this year's celebrations to be conducted as a wholly 'Halal-free' event. The demand has been led by local activists associated with Sri Ram Sene, who say the move is aimed at safeguarding the religious and cultural sanctity of the festival.
Durga Jatre, dedicated to Goddess Durgamma, is one of the region's prominent religious fairs, featuring a month of cultural programmes, folk performances, wrestling bouts and community feasts. A key ritual in the festival involves devotees offering sheep sacrifices as part of vows taken during the celebration.
Organisers and supporters of the 'Halal-free' campaign assert ...