On Verge Of Destruction

The tadadi port project in karnataka will deal a severe blow to the sacred mangroves.

- Akshit Sangomla

It is a special moment for Govind P Pattgaru Masur, the main priest of Bobburu-lingeshwara shrine. At 12 pm, he closes the doors of the temple’s sanctum for a minute after the morning ritual, including aarti, is over. After the doors reopen, Masur has visibly transformed. In a high-pitched voice, he starts narrating Kannada verses to a fellow priest waiting outside. The discourse between the two continues for 20 minutes.

Assembled devotees watch the priests eagerly. Bobburu-lingeshwara is situated on an island in the middle of Aghanashini estuary in Uttara Kannada’s Kumta, a coastal town. It is a heritage site. Its mangroves considered sacred support a rich biodiversity. The region is home to 130 bird species, bats as well as innumerable fish and crabs, making it one of the most biodiverse estuaries along the western coast. Most of the temple visitors belong to Masoor village in Kumta. On this occasion, they await the deity’s answer to be conveyed by the priests. Generally, Masoor residents take important decisions only after seeking divine permission.

Farmers in Masoor grow kagga paddy, a variety which can tolerate salinity. Till now machines have never been used for harvesting. But this year due to increased labour costs, cultivators want to use machines and await the divine order on whether this can be done. A long silence ensues after the priests stop talking. The crowd breaks into cheers after hearing permission has been granted. After partaking of prasad, the devotees disperse. Happy with the deity’s answer, Masoor residents are unaware about the greatest threat, which can simply obliterate their existence.

Existential threat