Mangalore: After the historic appointment of two women belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) as archakas (priests), which went against the grain of Hindu tradition, the Kudroli Gokarnath Temple will provide a platform for over 5,000 widows to offer puja to Goddess Lakshmi here at 10am on October 23, the day which marks the festival of light.

Briefing the reporters on Saturday October 18, Former union minister B. Janardhana Poojary, who is also the chief architect of the temple termed the decision to bring women to the fore, is “as a mark of respect to womanhood”.

Over 5,000 women will be part of the Deepavali festival, where the women archakas will be brought to the temple in a silver chariot to perform puja.

The temple will provide saree, kumkum, jasmine and a coin of Rs.1 to all the women, to symbolize ‘freedom from widowhood’.

Besides this, the temple chief also asked all the families to allow widows in every household to offer puja, which is largely restricted according to the Hindu tradition.

‘Don’t legalize prostitution’

B. Janardhana Poojary, did not agree with the idea of legalizing prostitution, which is being debated in the state.

He said, “No legal action can be taken if prostitution is legalized in the state. Instead, the state government must provide better facilities including employment. Only by these initiatives, women have an alternative rather than getting into prostitution.”

The religious heads should convince the prostitutes too”, he urged.