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Hundreds of villagers gather for the funeral of a horse in Karnataka (Screengrab/YouTube)
Hundreds of mourners broke Covid regulations to attend the funeral of a “divine” horse that belonged to a religious organisation in Karnataka in southern India resulting in the authorities sealing the entire village.
On Sunday, in Karnataka’s Belagavi district, hundreds of people were seen flouting Covid safety protocols on distancing, mask-wearing and large gatherings in order to mark the funeral of a horse that villagers considered to be their “guardian deity” against the coronavirus.
Videos of the incident that were widely shared on Indian social media have garnered anger and criticism.
BELAGAVI: An entire village in Gokak taluk here has been sealed for 14 days after hundreds of people participated in the funeral of a horse belonging to a mutt and believed to be the local “guardian deity” against Covid-19. The 24-year-old horse died on Sunday, three days after it was let loose to roam the village “to ward off the ongoing second wave of Covid-19” and “future scourges too”.
The district police have registered a case as villagers thronged the funeral in violation of masking and distancing norms, and videos of the procession went viral. Taluk health officer Muttanna Koppad said directives have been issued to conduct 450 tests. So far, 25 villagers have undergone rapid antigen tests and all tested negative. RT-PCR tests will be conducted only on those showing Covidlike symptoms, he added.
According to cops, the villagers believed the horse to be divine and the death a bad omen so, they held a grand funeral to reduce the ill effects.
BELAGAVI: The district police registered a case and sealed an entire village after hundreds participated in the funeral ceremony of a dead horse.
The horse dubbed divine was brought to the Maradi village near Konnur in Gokak taluk on the direction of Pawadeshwara Maha Swamiji of the Maradi Mutt to ward off Covid-19. It was left to wander around the village. On Sunday morning, the horse was found dead. The reason for the death is unknown.