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MANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA, February 13, 2002: Even with so many temples and religious festivals, Karnataka State has yet to achieve self-sufficiency in sacred kumkum, the red powder used in worship. It is traditionally made of tumeric powder and lime, but many chemical imitations have appeared, some of them harmful to the body. The kumkum sold in the state comes from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Nagpur. “All red you see is not kumkum,” warned Anand from Theerthalli based NGO “Krishi Prayoga Parivar.” He was participating in a workshop organized by Sahithya Kendra. “Today the kumkum available in homes, monasteries and temples is impure.” Kumkum is not merely decorative, but sacred of the scared, “Mangala Dravyas,” which ensures the balance of cosmic energy in human body, he added. Anand declared that except Shringeri Mutt, pure kumkum is not available anywhere. Shri Ragheshwar Bharati Swamy of Ramachandrapura Mutt in Hosnagar extended support to the campaign by producing kumkum in the traditional manner, he said.

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