Fear of deity makes this village build single-floor homes only
HUBLI: Hyati
village, 98km from Hubli, is an interesting place -- it has only
ground-floor houses. All because people don't dare build the first floor
fearing the wrath of the deity.
Villagers say those who dared do it faced financial ruin and health problems. The temple of the local deity Uramma is 35ft tall and they believe no house should be taller than it. This village has over 2,500 people and most are well-to-do. Many are in government service and some are in the Army. The village has benefited by the Tungabhadra lift irrigation project and farmers reap better yields of their maize, bengal gram and groundnut crops. Paramesh Reddy, director of Navatungabhadra Cooperative Society, Hyati, told TOI, "There's a belief among people that if they build houses taller than the temple, the families will be put to hardship."
Those who built multiple floors faced trouble
Siddareddy Meti, high school teacher, said, "Some people who built houses with first and second floors faced health and financial problems. All those who went against this belief have become paupers and even left the village. I too haven't dared construct the first floor in my house."
"Though we have enough money to build it, we don't put up more floors to our house. We don't want to invite the wrath of the deity. A relative of mine constructed a building with two floors but faced untold miseries, and became a pauper," said Timma Reddy, gram panchyat member.
A village in Gadag district is hostage to a similar superstition. Hatalgeri too bars constructions taller than the temple to the local deity. The tiny village is 5km from the district headquarters. Legend has it that such a structure would anger Sri Bevina Marada Satyamma Devi (goddess of truth who lives in neem trees).
They believe her wrath would bring bad luck to the family that dared construct a taller building and could be in the form of business losses, illness or even death.
They also don't cut neem trees which are in abundance here.
Villagers say those who dared do it faced financial ruin and health problems. The temple of the local deity Uramma is 35ft tall and they believe no house should be taller than it. This village has over 2,500 people and most are well-to-do. Many are in government service and some are in the Army. The village has benefited by the Tungabhadra lift irrigation project and farmers reap better yields of their maize, bengal gram and groundnut crops. Paramesh Reddy, director of Navatungabhadra Cooperative Society, Hyati, told TOI, "There's a belief among people that if they build houses taller than the temple, the families will be put to hardship."
Those who built multiple floors faced trouble
Siddareddy Meti, high school teacher, said, "Some people who built houses with first and second floors faced health and financial problems. All those who went against this belief have become paupers and even left the village. I too haven't dared construct the first floor in my house."
"Though we have enough money to build it, we don't put up more floors to our house. We don't want to invite the wrath of the deity. A relative of mine constructed a building with two floors but faced untold miseries, and became a pauper," said Timma Reddy, gram panchyat member.
A village in Gadag district is hostage to a similar superstition. Hatalgeri too bars constructions taller than the temple to the local deity. The tiny village is 5km from the district headquarters. Legend has it that such a structure would anger Sri Bevina Marada Satyamma Devi (goddess of truth who lives in neem trees).
They believe her wrath would bring bad luck to the family that dared construct a taller building and could be in the form of business losses, illness or even death.
They also don't cut neem trees which are in abundance here.
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