DAILEKH, Aug 27: The Brahmin society of Dailekh did not tie the sacred thread around the wrists of the locals on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan on Sunday expressing their dissatisfaction over excluding their rights in the recently introduced civil code. According to the locals, the Brahmins broadcast a notice of their inability to perform the ritual through local FM radios a day before the Rakshya Bandhan festival and refused to perform their responsibility.
The code does not mention about the rights of the Brahmins. Disappointed by the changes in the civil code, the Brahmins have stopped performing their ritual works related to worship, marriage as well as death rituals since Friday, said Aatma Prasad Upadhyay.
“We have stopped all religious activities. Chhetris and others should also support our protest,” said Upadhyay.
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Dalit rights activists said that the Brahmins took such a step in an attempt to deny the Dalits from observing the Rakshya Bandhan festival.
Previously, the Brahmins were reluctant to tie the holy thread to the Dalit during Rakshya Bandhan.
Dismayed by the discrimination against Dalits during the Hindu festival, a group of Dalit rights activists had drawn the attention of Chief District Officer Laxmi Prasad Baskota a month ago, according to Amar Sunar, a Dalit rights activist.
CDO Baskota said he is trying to give a way out to the dispute through dialogue.
Rights activists have commented the move as a caste-based discrimination.
Caste-based Discrimination and Untouchability (Offence and Punishment) Act, 2068 discourages any sort of discrimination based on his or her caste. Local authorities can slap three years imprisonment or fine of Rs 25,000 if anyone practices caste-based discrimination.
