Photo: A villager from Haveri district gives up cigarettes, symbolically drops a stick in the bag (jolige) of Sadashiva Swami during the latter’s initiative to rid villagers of addictionHaveri: Sadashiva Swami, the pontiff of Haveri Hukkerimath, spearheaded a month-long de-addiction campaign across Haveri district from Nov 6 to Dec 6, under the ‘Addiction-Free Villages Initiative’. He covered 75 villages in Haveri district, including the city, calling upon people to give up alcohol, cigarettes, and gutka, by placing them in his bag.Each morning, the Swami led a public awareness walk accompanied by young seers, despite the harsh winter. Several youths and adults pledged to quit the vices by giving up their alcohol bottles, cigarette packs, and gutka packets in the pontiff’s bag (jolige).“If people drop alcohol bottles, cigarettes, or gutka packets, it means that they are giving them up,” the pontiff said. The initiative drew appreciation from residents. Along with his devotees, Swami took out padayatras in 75 villages and various wards across the city, asking residents to pledge not to drink liquor or consume tobacco.He believes that such a pledge would instil fear of God, and guide people on a righteous path. The pontiff said his appeal to the public, to give up addiction, has yielded positive results. During a meeting, Sadashiva Swami said that the youth were ruining their future by becoming addicts and called for an addiction-free society. “Many young people are becoming slaves to various vices like alcohol, cigarettes, gutka, and other tobacco products. To eliminate these bad habits, we started a walk to build an addiction-free society as part of the Hukkerimath Fair,” he said.He advised that the Hukkerimath Fair Festival in Haveri, would begin this Dec, and include the school’s golden jubilee, the Amrit Mahotsav of the Prasada Nilaya, the silver jubilee of the student association, a cattle fair, and a Guru Vandana programme. He urged devotees to participate in all these events and, eliminate their bad habits.Quote:“Sadashiva Swami has initiated an innovative programme in Haveri district, and is creating awareness among society against addiction. Many devotees were inspired by this, and got rid of their bad habits for the last month.” – Sri Mahanta Prabhu Swami of Shegunisi“Addiction-Free Villages Initiative’ by Sadashiva Swami, along with other young seers, received a good response in the district. Many young stars have decaudated from their bad habits.” – Shivabasappa Walishettar, Hukkerimath devotee
