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Karnataka Official Under Scrutiny After Fire-Walking Ritual Amidst Prohibition

Hassan, Karnataka – October 23, 2025 – K.S. Lathakumari, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Hassan district, is facing scrutiny after participating in a “kenda seve,” or fire-walking ritual, at the Siddeshwara Jatra Mahotsava held at the Hasanamba temple in Hassan on Thursday. The event, part of a traditional religious festival, saw many residents of Hassan and surrounding areas also take part in the practice.

The DC’s participation is particularly controversial because it potentially violates the Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Act, 2017, which came into effect in 2020. This law explicitly prohibits rituals that involve self-inflicted injuries, including “coercing any person or persons to perform fire-walk at the time of jatras and religious festivals, causing physical injury.” The law was enacted after several incidents in the state involving injuries and deaths during similar rituals.

When contacted by The Hindu, DC Lathakumari defended her actions, stating that she made an instantaneous decision to walk on the fire path as an experiment. She emphasized that her intention was not to promote the practice. “I was there on the premises to ensure all safety measures were in place. There was an ambulance and fire tenders present on site. All these years, I have not participated in such rituals. I interacted with women who performed the ritual and wanted to know how they felt,” she said.

Lathakumari further explained that she had spoken with an elderly participant who described the ritual as a test of endurance and resilience. “I did not perform it to promote it. It was just an experiment. In my opinion, we should not encourage such practices,” she added.

While the DC maintains that her actions were not intended to endorse the ritual, critics argue that her participation, in her official capacity, could be interpreted as tacit approval of a prohibited practice. Further investigation into the incident is expected.

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