A 'shudhikalasha' (purification) ceremony was conducted in the town of Udupi in Karnataka by a Sangh Parivar outfit, days after Jignesh Mevani, the Gujarat-based lawyer and Dalit leader, interacted with thousands of Dalits in the area.
Citing local Dool News, The Indian Express reported today that the Yuva Brigade, an outfit of the Sangh Parivar, said that area around the Sree Krishna temple was rendered impure by the presence of Dalits, and a purification ceremony was conducted by Vishweshwa Theertha, the 86-year-old seer of the Pejewara Mutt. Despite prohibitory orders from the district administration, Theertha also led a protest march.
Earlier this year, officials of the Silgur devta temple in Dehradun had planned to carry out a nine-day purification ritual after Dalits entered the premises.