Bhubaneswar: Traditionalists and rationalists clashed in various parts of the state on Tuesday over eating food during the lunar eclipse.
Until yesterday, the two sides were only arguing in various media on this issue, but today it has taken a violent turn in both Bhubaneswar and Berhampur.
A seminar was organized by the rationalists at the Lohia Academy in Bhubaneswar. Along with this, there was a communal meal program.
However, while their seminar was going on, the traditionalists reached there and protested. After protests by traditionalists, the two sides clashed despite the presence of the police.
A similar situation was seen in Berhampur. There the rationalists had organized a communal meal. However, traditionalists reached the venue and protested.
The traditionalists tore up the banner of the rationalists. The rationalists opposed it. Later, a fight broke out between the two parties. The police rushed to control the situation and beat the crowd.
It should be noted that today is Kartik Purnima. A lunar eclipse is also to occur today. There is a tradition of fasting and abstaining from food during lunar eclipse. The rationalists do not agree with this belief.
The rationalists suggest that there is no problem if you take food during lunar eclipse. To prove this and to make people aware, they organize communal meals on solar eclipses and lunar eclipses.
There was controversy during the last solar eclipse. However, the rationalists said that they would eat biryani again during the lunar eclipse. And in response, the traditionalists said that it would be strongly opposed. Today its fruits were seen in Bhubaneswar and Berhampur.
