Sat Jan 25 12:26:37 IST 2025: ## Lavish Wedding at Kuvempu Trust Sparks Controversy
**Shivamogga, January 25, 2025** – A wedding held Friday at the Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Trust in Kuppali has ignited controversy for its perceived extravagance. The ceremony, intended to be a Mantra Mangalya – a simple wedding ritual designed by the late Kannada poet Kuvempu – instead featured elaborate lighting, a musical program, and a large dinner for guests. A video of the event, which went viral on social media, showed the opulent setting prompting criticism from many who felt it violated the spirit of Kuvempu’s vision for simple weddings.
The wedding, conducted by residents of Bengaluru originally from Koppa taluk in Chikkamagaluru, took place in the amphitheatre outside the Hemangana auditorium. While the Trust secretary, Kadidal Prakash, confirmed that the guest count was within the 200-person limit, he acknowledged the event appeared excessively grand compared to the intended simplicity of Mantra Mangalya. He attributed this to the family’s request for an outdoor evening ceremony and stated that future events would be restricted to the auditorium to ensure adherence to Kuvempu’s ideals.
Kuvempu, a Jnanapith awardee, famously pioneered Mantra Mangalya in 1966 by holding his son’s wedding in a simple farmhouse setting, rejecting traditional Sanskrit mantras and rituals. This minimalist approach has gained popularity among those inspired by Kuvempu and his son, Poornachandra Tejaswi’s, writings. The recent event, however, highlights the challenge of maintaining the integrity of such traditions amidst changing societal norms. The Trust now plans to implement stricter guidelines to prevent similar incidents in the future.
First Piper 