Karnataka: Candidates throng temples prior to polls

Bangalore, April 17: With just a few weeks left for the

, candidates are queuing up at temples hoping to appease the gods.

Well-known temples in the city, which include Gali Anjaneya Temple, the famous Bull temple or the Lord Narasimha Temple are seeing a bee-line of anxious contestants.

According to the priests, the candidates consult their respective family astrologers before visiting a temple and are very particular on performing certain "poojas" on specific days as per their horoscopes. "It is sometimes interesting to see an individual who has never paid obeisance to gods in his life time, bending backwards to please the almighty for his own selfish reason. But he does not know that he can take the people, not the gods for a ride", said a priest on condition of anonymity.

According to priests, candidates spend over an hour at each temple and have been making generous offerings.

"One can see them at their politest best with the public and also donating generously to beggars who sit on temple steps, a behaviour which can be witnessed only before polls", he said. "We, besides astrologers are very much in demand in such times. The astrologers to foretell the political future of the candidates and advise them as to what they should do to fulfil their political aspirations and we to help them with implementation of the astrologers' instructions. We make hay while the sun shines", he said.

Incidentally, Malleswaram, where the blasts took place on Wednesday morning has quite a few temples in the vicinity.

OneIndia News (With input from agencies)