Yamaraj long jump video: A creative protest in Karnataka’s Udupi district has caught the attention of social media, as a video featuring a mace-wielding ‘Yamaraj,’ the Hindu God of Death, conducting a long jump competition on a pothole-filled road went viral. The video was filmed on the Adi Udupi-Malpe road, a crucial route connecting Udupi to the popular Malpe Beach, now notorious for its treacherous potholes.
In the video, ‘Yamaraj,’ dressed in his traditional attire, is seen supervising and measuring the long jumps made by men dressed as ghosts. Assisting him is another man dressed as ‘Chitragupta,’ the Hindu deity known as the registrar of the dead. This symbolic protest was staged to draw attention to the dire state of the road, which has become a significant problem for local residents and commuters.
Long jump event contest
Organiser- Mr Yamaraj
Participants- common citizen
Winning Prize- lifeHope civic authorities act before Yamaraj takes them to hell
Unique protest in Udupi, #Karnataka #Potholes claim many lives every year.
— @diti Bh@rdw@j (@Aditi14Bhardwaj) August 28, 2024
The protest has sparked widespread discussion about the condition of roads in Karnataka, with many praising the innovative approach to highlight an issue that affects daily life. The video has also put pressure on local authorities to address the hazardous road conditions.
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This isn’t the first time citizens have resorted to creative protests to draw attention to poor infrastructure. Earlier this year in Hyderabad, a woman sat in a pothole filled with muddy water to protest against the deplorable state of roads in the city. She claimed her children had been injured after falling into potholes and pointed out that the stretch from Nagole to Uppal was riddled with around 30 potholes. Her placard read, “Where is our road tax and municipal tax?”
As these unconventional protests gain traction, they underscore the growing frustration among citizens over the lack of timely road maintenance and the dangers posed by neglected infrastructure.
