The Gavi Mutt has dismissed social media reports saying Abhinava Gavishiddheshwara Swamiji had rejected the invitation to inaugurate the upcoming Mysuru Dasara festivities. The mutt has said that the report is false and that the seer accepted the invitation from Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.
According to the Gavi Mutt, there are social media rumours that the seer did not inaugurate Dasara celebrations as industrial activity is still on the rise in the region. The mutt has denied this and advised the people not to believe the false news that can confuse.
The clarification came amid discussions on industrial development and environmental concerns in the Koppal region. The Gavi Mutt said no official statement from either seer or mutt announced a rejection of the Dasara invitation.
Seer had observed a period of silence
The mutt said Abhinava Gavishiddheshwara Swamiji had been observing a period of silence for the last week. His period of silence ended on Saturday afternoon.
The mutt said that the lack of public communication during this time could have led to speculation and rumours of his participation in the Mysuru Dasara celebrations.
Opponents and the seer were using it to spread misinformation and to cause confusion. Such claims have not been verified according to our source of the rumours.
Dasara Invitation Accepted
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had invited Abhinava Gavishiddheshwara Swamiji to inaugurate the Dasara festivities. The Gavi Mutt has now made it clear that the invitation has been accepted.
The mutt said it was a matter of pride that Gavishree would inaugurate the big Dasara festivity. Mysuru Dasara is one of Karnataka’s major annual cultural celebrations and attracts people and dignitaries from all over the state and beyond.
The clarification is also significant amid social media speculation around the seer’s position on the ongoing industrial developments. The mutt said neither it nor Gavishree has made any official announcement rejecting the invitation.
The Gavi Mutt has also been associated with the annual Gavi Mutt Jatra, which has seen the participation of many eminent personalities over the years.
Industrial Agitation Continues
While the Dasara invitation issue has been resolved by the mutt, industrial development remains a contentious issue in the Koppal region.
Convenors of the Joint Action Committee of the Jilla Bachao Andolana Samiti and Parisara Hitarakshana Vedike have written to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to urge the government not to allow the expansion of various industries, including Baldota, and to build new factories.
The groups have raised concerns over industrial expansion and its potential implications for the region. Their representation is also against the background of ongoing industrial agitation.
Gavi Mutt's latest clarification, however, separates the Dasara invitation from those developments. The mutt has said that reports that the seer declined the invitation because of the industrial agitation are false.
Mutt Appeals Against Rumours
The Gavi Mutt has appealed to devotees and the public not to confuse the seer’s participation in Mysuru Dasara.
With the mutt confirming that the invitation has been accepted, we shall now prepare the Dasara festivities and programme for the inauguration.
The clarification also reiterates the importance of official statements in counteracting social media rumours if they centre on major religious figures and major public events.
As of the latest clarification, there has been no official announcement from Abhinava Gavishiddheshwara Swamiji or Gavi Mutt that he has withdrawn from or rejected the invitation to inaugurate Mysuru Dasara.
