Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar’s claim that Chamundi Hill “does not belong to Hindus alone” is not inclusivity but cultural erasure. His remark and INC invitation for the inauguration of the Dasara Festival to a Hindu-hating “peaceful” author, Banu Mushtaq, reeks of appeasement. The words and deeds serve the compulsions of INC’s consistent vote-bank politics by undermining centuries of Hindu faith, identity, and civilizational continuity.
Chamundi Hill is not public property to be distributed on the altar of “secularism.” It is a Shakti Peetha revered by Hindus across millennia. It’s a sacred geography that is under the control of the Karnataka Muzrai Department, while the Wadiyar royal family seeks judicial remedy over rights to the hills and surrounding regions. To desecrate a Hindu festival for appeasement brownie points is a despicable act of short-term and short-sighted politics.
Chamundi Hill: A Shakti Peetha Beyond Politics
Chamundi Hill stands 3,489 feet above sea level. However, it is not just a mound of soil – it is one of the most sacred spiritual landmarks in Karnataka. Atop sits the Chamundeshwari Temple, which has stood since at least the 12th century, with inscriptions dating back to the Hoysala period. Later, the Wadiyars of Mysore became ardent devotees of Chamundeshwari, adopting her as their family deity.
According to the Devi Mahatmyam, Maa Chamundeshwari is the fierce form of Durga who slays Mahishasura.
This is not a casual legend that can be rubbished by the LeLi Ecosystem as Folklore. The legend shapes the very name of the city itself: Mysuru derives from “Mahishur,” the place where Mahishasura was killed.
Every year, the Mysuru Dasara celebrates this victory of dharma over adharma. It honors the Divine Feminine energy in its most Rudra form. Declared the Nada Habba (State Festival) by the Karnataka government itself, Dasara attracts over 10 lakh visitors annually. Temple Tourism and Festival Tourism revenue during this period alone contributes hundreds of crores to the local economy. The Chamundi Temple Dasara Celebrations support hotels, transportation, handicrafts, flower markets, and much more. To dismiss Chamundi Hill as a “shared” site ignores its deep civilizational and religious role to reduce it to a mere tourist spot.
Chamundi Temple is dedicated to Maa Shakti’s Chamundeshwari Swaroop, and in the chamundi hills lies the soul of Mysuru.
The Fallacy of False Secularism
DK Shivakumar compared Chamundi Hill with mosques, churches, and gurudwaras, arguing that faith must be inclusive. But such comparisons reveal a selective blindness.
- Can a Hindu go to Mecca or the Madina mosque?
- Can a Woman go inside any mosque?
- Can a Sikh walk inside the Golden Temple in Amritsar without covering his head?
- Can a non-Christian perform Holy Mass inside a Roman Cathedral?
The answers are obvious: No! Each faith guards its sacred spaces with care. However, for INC and its leaders, Hindus are voters meant to be exploited on the caste lines, and temples are sources of income. Thus, under INDI-Alliance, Hindu temples are constantly told to dilute their identity in the name of “secularism.”
This is not inclusivity – it is Hindu exceptionalism!
The LeLi Ecosystem uses secularism as an excuse to undermine the Hindu faith while demanding the relinquishing of the right to rituals or exclusivity. The Indian Constitution (Articles 25–28) guarantees freedom of religion. However, in practice, Hindus are repeatedly told to “share” their sacred spaces, while other religions remain untouched.
This double standard reveals that the “secularism” being practiced here is not neutrality – it is targeted appeasement.
The Banu Mushtaq Controversy: Symbolism of Appeasement
The choice of Banu Mushtaq, a leftist writer and self-professed non-practicing Muslim, to inaugurate Mysuru Dasara is sparking a political firestorm in Karnataka. Mushtaq has previously called Karnataka’s cultural goddess Bhuvaneshwari Devi “an exclusionary symbol,” mocking those who revere her. She stated that Muslims refuse to accept Kannada as it is related to Ma Bhuvaneshwari. So, how is she qualified to inaugurate a festival dedicated to Chamundeshwari Devi? Not really. Can she acknowledge the divinity of Karnataka’s presiding deity? Unlikely.
Inviting Banu Mushtaq as a guest for Dasa inauguration is not mere symbolism – it is a calculated political signal.
The Congress is placing someone who has publicly belittled Hindu traditions and identity at the forefront of a dharmic festival. Thus, the INC effectively tells Karnataka Hindus: Hindus beliefs are negotiable, and dharmic spaces can be turned into political stages.
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya asked the right question: Will Banu Mushtaq bow before Chamundeshwari Devi before inaugurating Dasara? Or is the act meant only to appease sections of the electorate while alienating millions of Hindus?
The answer will decide whether this is truly “secularism” or simply “sickular” appeasement dressed in inclusivity.
Temples Are Ecosystems, Not Political Stages
Hindu temples like Chamundi Hill are not just places of worship. They are living ecosystems that sustain entire communities:
- Priests and families preserve centuries-old Vedic traditions.
- Artisans create idols, chariots, and ornaments for the annual Dasara.
- Musicians and dancers perform Carnatic hymns and Bharatanatyam in the Devi’s honor.
- Flower sellers, vendors, and craftsmen make a livelihood that depends entirely on temple-based festivals.
The economic importance of Chamundi Hill is staggering. The temple receives lakhs of devotees every month, generating revenues in the range of ₹40–50 crore annually. Thus, the Temple ecosystem sustains local welfare and jobs. During Dasara alone, Mysuru sees a 40% spike in tourism revenue compared to other months.
When politicians declare such temples “secular spaces,” they are not just undermining faith – They are threatening the cultural economy that has evolved around it for centuries.
Turning Hindu Festivals into a political showcase of inclusivity risks breaking a delicate chain of heritage, economy, and devotion.
Do Not Hijack Chamundi Hill
Chamundi Hill belongs to Devi Chamundeshwari and her devotees. They can be of any caste, creed, or religion – as long as they acknowledge Maa Chamundershwari’s divine power and bow low before her. Using Dasara, a Hindu festival, to score “sickular” brownie points is a shameful act by the INC.
By undermining the dharmic identity of the Dasara Festival and Devi Chamundershwari, Congress is not practicing secularism – it is erasing civilizational heritage and mocking Hindus of Karnataka for electing them.
In a truly secular country, all faiths are respected equally. But under Khan-gress rule, only Hindus are forced to dilute their traditions for the sake of political optics. No one pleads for animals on Bakri Eid? Nobody cares about the environment on Christmas when Trees are cut?
Chamundi Hill is not secular real estate – It is a Dharma inheritance.
The hill and its temple have shaped Karnataka’s identity for over a thousand years. The hill must be preserved as what it is: a Shakti Peetha, a temple ecosystem, and a symbol of Hindu continuity.
Anything less is not secularism. It is a cultural hijack.
