Major decision! Karnataka BJP to rename ritual ‘Salaam Aarti’ started by Tipu Sultan

The practice of ‘Salaam Aarti’ was started during the reign of Islamic tyrant Tipu Sultan, who had mandated that the temple priests should perform special aarti to the presiding deity in his honour.

NewsBharati 10-Dec-2022 14:38:24 PM

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Bengaluru, December 10: Taking a major decision, the ruling BJP of Karnataka has decided to rename ‘Salaam Aarti’– a ritual started by Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan in the state. The announcement to change the age-old ritual made by the Karnataka Dharmika Parishat, which comes under the Department of Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments.

The practice of ‘Salaam Aarti’ was started during the reign of Islamic tyrant Tipu Sultan, who had mandated that the temple priests should perform special aarti to the presiding deity in his honour.

Kashekodi Suryanarayana Bhat, Member of Parishat stated that earlier the ritual was conducted for the welfare of state administration, now it will be for the welfare of the people. Now, the ritual would be named ‘Namaskara’. The ritual was conducted in the famous temples of Puttur, Subramanya, Kollur, Melkote and others in the then-Mysuru kingdom.

It should be noted that earlier many Hindu leaders and Dharmika Parishad have taken objection to such practice and have sought to change the name as it finds no mention in the Hindu scripts. Based on that, the Hindu activist groups and devotees have now demanded the district administration change the name of ‘Salaam Aarti’ to ‘Sandhya Aarti’, which is performed to the deity at the Melkote temple in Mandya daily.

As per Hindu organisations, ‘Salaam Aarti’ was the symbol of slavery and was practised to assert domination. They demanded ending the ritual.