NEW DELHI, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- India's ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) Friday began a 24-hour prayer ceremony for the protection of cows in southern state of Karnataka.

The ceremony "Cow protection Ashtayama Yagna" (fire ritual) is being organised by BJP's cow protection cell in Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka.

"The ceremony is being organised to create awareness on the need to protect cow population in the state and closure of illegal slaughter houses," Siddhartha Goenka, the convenor of the cell told media.

The function will be attended by the state BJP's top-brass including chief B S Yeddyurappa.

Karnataka is governed by Congress party and local elections are likely to be held in the state in two months.

BJP's move about raising awareness about cows has been criticised by opposition and activists.

"At a time when Karnataka is faced with issue pertaining to farmers and pollution, BJP is talking about cows," Atul Sharma, an activist said. "The motive behind the Yagna is to polarise voters on religious lines."

Majority of Hindus consider cow to be sacred, and its slaughtering is banned in most Indian states. To defend cows, groups under the patronage of rightwing Hindu organisations have come up in rural areas of India to protect them and stop sale of beef. The groups referred as vigilantes routinely check vehicles and often beat up cattle traders.

Cows came on the forefront of Indian politics in 2014, the year BJP ascended to power under the leadership of Narendra Modi.