The Karnataka government has decided to spend Rs.17 crore to ensure that the state does not face a drought this year. However, the money is not being spent on drought-proofing measures; rather the government is handing out this amount for "special prayers and yagnas" to invoke the rain gods. The opposition party leaders, who were able to grab a copy of the circular issued by the department of religious endowments, criticised the minister concerned for pushing "superstition".
According to the government circular, each of the 34,000 Hindu temples under the purview of the department of religious endowments have to perform special yagnas -- Varuna Homa and Jala Abhisheka -- on July 27 and August 2 as the two days are considered auspicious. The government will grant between Rs.2,000 and Rs.5,000 to each temple, totalling Rs.17 crore.
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