'Koragajja Nema' ritual cancelled in Bengaluru after backlash from Tulu people: Report

Tulu speaking people from coastal regions of Karnataka opposed the ‘Koragajja Nema’ ritual, which was scheduled for Saturday in Bengaluru's Yelahanka.

Rishab Shetty's latest release Kantara has motivated several people to revisit ritualistic practices in Karnataka's coastal districts. A temple in Bengaluru's Yelahanka area had organised the ‘Koragajja Nema’ ritual, meant for worshipping a deity from coastal Karnataka.

Tuluvas accused temple authorities of profiteering by proposing to hold the ritual in Bengaluru. (Pinterest)

It is practised by Tulu-speaking people, Tuluvas, who made it clear that the initiative was not welcome. They alleged the organisers were trying to mint money through the programme, the Deccan Herald reported. A flyer detailing the schedule of the event to be held in the state capital for the first time ever, went viral on social media.

The temple in Yelahanka's Chokkanahalli received severe backlash from natives of the coastal region, who said ‘Daivaradhane’ - meaning worship of the demigod - cannot be performed outside the land where the deity resides. The ritual which was set to take place on Saturday morning, was called off by the organisers.

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The representatives of the temple who had started collecting donations for the event, told the publication that they received many objections from Mangaluru.

Kantara has been in the headlines ever since its release in September-end, having become the highest-grossing Kannada film of all time. It has also found itself in multiple controversies since, the copyright suit with Kerala-based band Thaikkudam Bridge over one of its iconic songs 'Varaha Roopam' being one of them.

The movie is getting a lot of love from rural audiences, having featured folklore and cultures prevalent in Tulunadu, the south western part of Karnataka.