Women will not be barred from Brahmagiri betta

Madikeri: The Kodagu district administration has dismissed rumours that women will not be allowed to climb the Brahmagiri betta from Talacauvery temple, the place where the Cauvery takes its birth. This comes as a response to the furore that followed the visit of an astrologer from Kerala, who said that only men, girls below 10 years and women above 50 years of age will be allowed to climb the Brahmagiri betta, between Tula Sankramana day and Vrushabha Sankramana day.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Kodagu Satish Kumar said that the personal opinion of the astrologer was construed as an official decision of the government-appointed temple committee. He clarified that the committee was only responsible for the routine administration in the temple and did not have the right to take unilateral decisions, which were outside the jurisdiction of its prescribed duties. “The Talacauvery temple is administered by the Muzrai Department of the State government and is not a party to the opinion stated by an astrologer,” he added.