Mangalore : It was a yagna with a difference. For, rather than seeking personal favours from the divine, it was performed to put an end to the increasing sexual assault on women and children.

On Friday, at the stroke of 12.05 pm, former chief of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat Harikrishna Punaroor and his wife offered grains and articles to the sacred fire in the “Homa Kunda” (altar of fire).Over 2,000 devotees had turned up for the Shree Gayathri Mahayagna at the Shree Devi Annapoorneshwari temple in Horanadu, Kodiyadka Kshetra near Moodbidri.

It was an initiative of the temple’s founder-trustee Kodyadka Jayarama Heggade, an NRI based in Oman.

At the end of five-hour vedic yagna, Heggade said that the ever increasing rapes on women and children had maligned the country’s image. Narrating an incident, he said a Omani woman doctor was reluctuant to visit India when extended an invite. “Is it safe to visit India at this time?’’ was her poser which had left in shock.

It was then that the engineer-entrepreneur decided to do something to erase the “unsafe for women” tag that had come to be associated with the nation. While in Oman, he consulted priest Yedapadavu Narayan Tantri and scheduled the yagna on August 15.

“We NRIs want the country to be regarded with respect by other developed countries. I could do nothing but only pray,’’ says Heggade, who had organised special yagnas for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sultan of Oman Qaboos Bin Said.

“Shree Gayathri Mahayagya will set right the imbalance in mind overpowered by carnal instincts. By respecting each other, righteousness, peace and harmony will prevail in society,’’ said Narayan Tantri, who led the team of priests in the conduct of the yagya.

According to Narayan Tantri, the yagna will create a divine atmosphere in society in the country.

After the completion of the lengthy rituals, all the devotess were treated to a delicious meal.