The Karnataka government has decided to spend Rs.17 crore to ensure that the state does not face a drought this year. However, the money is not being spent on drought-proofing measures; rather the government is handing out this amount for "special prayers and yagnas" to invoke the rain gods. The opposition party leaders, who were able to grab a copy of the circular issued by the department of religious endowments, criticised the minister concerned for pushing "superstition". <br />According to the government circular, each of the 34,000 Hindu temples under the purview of the department of religious endowments have to perform special yagnas -- Varuna Homa and Jala Abhisheka -- on July 27 and August 2 as the two days are considered auspicious. The government will grant between Rs.2,000 and Rs.5,000 to each temple, totalling Rs.17 crore.<br /><br />For more log on to http://www.newsx.com
