Mangaluru : The 41 day Padayatra of Billawas under the leadership of Karadalu Brahmashree Narayana Guru Shakti Peetha’s Pranavananda Swamiji was inaugurated by senior leader of the community B Janardhana Poojary at the Kudroli Shree Gokarnanatha Temple on January 6, Friday.

The Padayatra aims at prevailing upon the government to fulfill the various demands of the Billawa, Ediga and Namdhari community.

The 658 km long Yatra which commenced from Kudroli shrine will pass through Udupi, Shivamogga, Davanagere, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Nelamangala and reach Bengaluru.

Several Billawa leaders, former mayor Kavitha Sanil and officebearers of Kudroli Temple Management Committee were present.

Some of the main demands of the community is formation of a Brahmashree Narayana Guru Development Corporation and provide a grant of Rs 500 crores and to increase political representation to Billawas. Other demands include rolling back the ban on toddy tapping that had been the community’s traditional vocation or providing alternative trade and stopping government intervention at the Sigandur Chowdeshwari Temple.

The participants of the Padayatra will camp in Kulai today and leave for Hejamady tomorrow.