Karnataka Government would consider appointing women priests to conduct pujas in state-run temples, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said.
Inaugurating the Mangalore Dasara at Kudroli Shree Gokarnanatheshwara Temple here last evening, he expressed hope that devotees would not oppose proposal for women priests to perform pujas in the Religious and Endowment Department temples.
He was reacting to a suggestion in this regard made by former union minister and managing trustee of the Kudroli Temple committee Janardhan Poojary.
He expressed also hope that Mangalore Dasara in the coming years would turn out to be as prominent as the Mysore Dasara festival.
"We should strive to unite the society and not divide it. We should live together with love and faith. Though people of various religions worship various Gods, God is one" he said.
Recalling the contributions of social reformer from Kerala Sri Narayana Guru, who consecreted the Kudroli temple in 1912, he said the Guru fought against untouchability when lower caste people were not allowed inside temples and the revolution had started from Kerala.
He urged all sections of society to fight against the suppression of women and protect them.
In his address, Poojary, also former KPCC President, said Sri Narayana Guru was a great revolutionary who spread humanitarian values.
Former union minister Oscar Fernandes, district incharge minister Ramanath Rai, health minister U T Khadar and urban development minister Vinay Kumar Sorake were among those present on the occasion.
The Dasara celebrations would conclude on October 4 with a grand procession.
