Mangalore : Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi who was instrumental in securing freedom for India is given the status of a god and worshipped daily in a place of Mangalore.  Here is an interesting story about it.

The Brahma Vaidarkala Garodi at Kankanady in Mangalore is this holy shrine where Gandhiji is worshipped and offered pooja. The marble statue of Mahatma Gandhi has a separate gudi in this shrine and people worship the mahatma with great reverence.

Since around 1948 Mahatma Gandhiji is worshipped here. Special pooja is offered to the Father of the Nation on days of national importance like Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanthi.

When the leaders associated with the management of the garodi were contacted,  they said the idol of Mahatma Gandhiji was installed by the Gandhians who were part of the garodi management of the past. We have only been carrying forward the practise with due respect to the Mahatma.

Gandhiji worshipped in a house too:  There is a clay idol of the Mahatma in the residence of  Somappa Pandith who was part of the garodi management. Here too the family members offer worship to Mahatma Gandhiji twice daily.

Somappa Pandiths children have taken pains to maintain the nearly 68 year old idol by painting it regularly and worshipping it.

Today at a time when the Mahatma is remembered only on Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanthi, these two places which worship Gandhiji daily stand as a model.