This temple in Karnataka worships Bapu

A shrine devoted to 'Father of the Nation' was established in Karnataka's Mangaluru district in 1948. Devotees still offer prayers to his statue at the temple with the aim to spread the message of peace, non-violence and communal harmony.

Mangaluru: With an aim to spread the message of peace, non-violence and communal harmony espoused by Mahatma Gandhi, devotees offered prayers at his statue at a temple in Mangaluru's Garodi area of Karnataka.

Prayers, along with tea, coffee and bananas were offered to Gandhi's idol by the temple priest at Shri Bramha Baidarkala Kshetra, three times a day. Like other deities, Bapu also had a separate small temple for him.

"In 1948, a separate shrine was built for him and in 2006 his statue was recreated. Youth are inspired by him," said Prakash Garodi, a devotee.

The temple is cleaned fortnightly by the devotee to spread the awareness about the sanitation.

"Mahatama Gandhi has always made cleanliness and sanitation an integral part of his way of living," Prakash added.