Chikkamagaluru : Devotees wearing Datta Mala and Naga Sadhus visited Sri Guru Inam Dattatreya Bababudan Swamy Dargah Peetha on Sunday as part of Datta Mala Abhiyana organised by Sri Rama Sene and had the darshana of Datta Paduke.

About 30 Naga Sadhus from Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) took part in the Abhiyana for the first time. Initially, the district administration did not allow them to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the sacred cave shrine.

This forced to Naga Sadhus and Sri Rama Sene workers to stage a protest outside the entrance of the Peetha. Bowing to pressure, the district administration allowed the Naga Sadhus to enter the cave and conduct puja to the Datta Paduke.

Earlier, the devotees wearing Datta mala visited Honnammanahalla and they proceeded towards Peetha after taking bath. Sri Rama Sene president Pramod Muthalik and others had the darshana of Datta Paduke.

Various religious rituals were held in a temporary stage built adjacent to the cave.

Deputy Commissioner S P Shadakshariswamy, SP K Santhosh Babu, Additional M L Vaishali, Additional SP Annappa Naika and others were present on the spot.

As part of the Abhiyana, a Shobhayatre was held in Chikkamagaluru town. The Shobhayatre started from Kamadhenu Ganapathi temple and passed through Basavanahalli Road-Hanumanthappa Circle-MG Road before culiminating at Bholarameshwara temple.

Wearing saffron dhothi, holding Bhagawadhwaja and reciting Datta Bhajan, the devotees passed through the procession. A few youths danced during the procession.

To maintain law and order, the police had beefed up security in the town. The movement of vehicles on M G Road was banned between 10 am and 11 am to facilitate the movement of Shobhayatre.

Jewargi Andolana Mutt seer Siddalingaswami urged the government to shift the tombs from Inam Dattatreya Peetha and hand over the Peetha to the Hindus.

At a public meeting organised as a part of the Abhiyana at Bolarameshwara temple, he said, “Dattatreya Peetha belongs to only Dattatreya Swami.

The time to protect our religion has come.” Muthalik said, “The ball related to Datta Peetha is in the State government’s court. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should solve the row amicably. He should take a decision based on the available documents and not to fall prey to vote bank politics.

We have been fighting for the cause of Datta Peetha for the last 30 years. The district and High Courts have passed a judgment in favour of Hindus. Now, the Supreme Court has asked the State government to take a decision. Naga Sadhus will meet Chief Minister shortly and will impress upon the chief minister to hand over Datta Peetha to the Hindus.