'Soft Hindutva' or tourism? What is behind Karnataka's 'Cauvery Aarti' plan?

Cauvery Aarti will be symbolically conducted on October 3 at Srirangapatna. The soft launch will be held at the Snana Ghatta (a bathing ghat in Srirangapatna), and the official launch at KRS will be held later. The team, which toured UP, felt a full-fledged Cauvery aarti, on the lines of Ganga, could not be introduced without preparation, and the whole affair required huge infrastructure.

This significant event will coincide with the first day of the Dasara celebrations. Priests from Varanasi are expected to visit Mandya and Mysore in the coming days.

Soft launch at Srirangapatna

Srirangapatna, situated on the Cauvery River in Karnataka, is a quaint island town renowned for the architectural wonder of the Ranganathaswamy Temple. It has a rich history as the former capital of the Mysore Kingdom under Tipu Sultan.

After permanent structures are constructed on the Cauvery banks, the aarti will become a regular feature and be conducted at least five days a week. It will likely be held on weekends at KRS, Nimishamba temple in Srirangapatna and Sangama in T Narasipura.

Also watch: Watch | Cauvery, Mekedatu and never-ending politics of passing the buck

Political significance

Although the Ganga Aarti has been performed twice daily by the Ganga Sabha in Haridwar for the past 108 years and for 35 years in Varanasi, it gained political mileage when Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it a point to perform it.  

According to political observers, though PM Modi may have inspired Shivakumar to plan the Cauvery Aarti, the Hindu ritual holds plenty of political significance for the Karnataka deputy CM as well.

Besides carrying a 'soft Hindutva' touch, the ritual will help DKS, who has been trying to emerge as the Vokkaliga face by consolidating the support base in the Cauvery belt regarded as a JD(S) bastion.  

Also read: Deputy CM Shivakumar raises pitch for renaming Ramanagara district as Bengaluru South 

Significance of Cauvery

The Cauvery River plays a significant role in Karnataka's history and culture. It has been a vital source of water for agriculture and drinking purposes for centuries. Cauvery is the lifeline of the people in many parts of southern Karntaka and is revered as the Ganga of the South.

Additionally, the Cauvery is worshipped as the Goddess Kaveriamma (Mother Cauvery) and is considered one of the seven holy rivers of India. 

BJP slams move

Meanwhile, the BJP slammed the Congress government for launching the Cauvery aarti. Opposition Leader R Ashok mocked the government's "unprecedented interest in Hindu rituals”.

This government, which reopened 30-year-old cases and jailed Kar Sevaks during the inauguration of the Ayodhya Ram Temple, and the same govt that loaded Ganesh idols onto police vans, is now suddenly showing interest in Hindu traditions, he said in a post on social media.

Isn't this just acting (sic)?" Ashok asked.

Instead, Ashok urged deputy chief minister to penalise those involved in communal violence in Karnataka. " Mr. Deputy Chief Minister, if you genuinely care about the nation and religion, first arrest those who raised 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogans in the Vidhana Soudha and those . responsible for the riots during the Ganesh Visarjan in Nagamangala and Davanagere," he wrote.

He also wondered if conducting a Cauvery Aarti would appease "Mother Cauvery".