Disheartened by the controversy over his plan to hold Diwali celebrations at Sri Manjunatha temple at Kadri in Mangalore in Karnataka, Congress Chief Whip in the Legislative Council Ivan D’Souza has decided to shift the venue to a nearby hall to “avoid any further row over the issue.”
VHP regional working president M B Puranik had registered his protest against a non-Hindu celebrating Diwali inside a temple, saying it would “defile” the sanctity of the place of worship.
D’Souza told reporters here that the venue of the celebrations would be shifted to Gorakshanatha hall in Kadri.
The festivities would go on as planned from 3 PM tomorrow, he said.
Stating that he had no political motive as alleged by the VHP leader, D’Souza said the idea was to involve people of all communities in celebrating the festival of lights.
Similarly, Iftar was held after Ramadan and Christmas would be celebrated in December, he said.