On 2 June 2025, the Hindu Munnani strongly criticized the Tamil Nadu government and the state police, accusing them of disrespecting Hindu religious traditions by curtailing age-old rituals practiced at temples in the Gudiyatham area of Vellore District.
The controversy centers around the Mariamman Temple, Nadukal (hero stone worship), and Muneeswarar Temple, which are over 200 years old. For generations, these temples have observed annual sacrificial rituals involving goats, poultry, and pigs during the Tamil months of Chithirai and Vaikasi. These ceremonies are deeply rooted in local customs and are collectively carried out by various communities, including the Arundhathiyar, Reddy, Naidu, Sanar, and Vanniyar groups.
However, tensions arose recently in Jittapalli village, where attempts to construct or expand a temple faced opposition from certain individuals identified as Islamist settlers near the site. In response to complaints and the resulting dispute, local police imposed a ban on the temple’s annual festival. While the community was later allowed to conduct the Pongal ritual, other key practices were restricted, including the traditional pig sacrifice—with even the animals meant for the offering being confiscated. Additionally, the temple priest and several administrators were arrested, further inflaming public sentiment.
The Hindu Munnani has condemned these actions, calling them an infringement on religious freedom and a violation of long-standing cultural traditions. They assert that animal sacrifice, including that of pigs, has historically been part of village deity worship across Tamil Nadu, and that state authorities are unfairly targeting Hindu customs while allegedly ignoring similar practices by other communities.
The group further alleged that while cow slaughter for Bakrid is openly conducted on public streets in the same region each year, no preventative measures or restrictions have been issued by the pollution control authorities or law enforcement. They questioned whether the government would apply the same level of scrutiny and bans to Bakrid practices as it has done to Hindu rituals. Calling the situation a clear case of religious discrimination, the Hindu Munnani warned that such suppression of Hindu practices will not be tolerated and vowed to organize protests if the government does not rectify what they termed as a biased and unjust approach to religious freedom.
Hindu Munnani State President Kadateswara Subramaniam, in an official statement, declared, “Hindu Munnani condemns the Tamil Nadu government and police for disrespecting the religious rights of Hindus. Press statement from Hindu Munnani State President Kadeswara C. Subramaniam..
In Jittapalli village, Gudiyatham Taluk, Vellore district, there exists the 200-year-old Mariamman Temple, Nadugal, and Munishwarar Temple. Every year, during the Tamil months of Chithirai and Vaikasi, it is a century-old tradition to conduct Pongal and offer sacrificial worship of goats, chickens, and pigs at these temples. Communities such as Arundhathiyar, Reddy, Naidu, Sanar, and Vanniyar jointly conduct this temple festival.
When there was an attempt to build a compound wall around the temple and construct a temple structure in Jittapalli village, a few Muslims who had settled near the temple objected. As a result, a Christian tahsildar imposed a ban on the construction. The villagers lodged a complaint with the district collector. Following this ban on temple construction, the police department has now also imposed a ban on conducting the temple festival. After a long struggle, the police allowed only women to perform the Pongal. Moreover, the pig intended for temple offering was confiscated. Additionally, the priest and the temple administrators were arrested, held in custody, and intimidated. Through this, the police have denied the villagers their right to worship. We strongly condemn the ban on temple construction, the ban on conducting the festival, and the ban on pig sacrifice all of which represent a total prohibition of traditional Hindu worship. Across Tamil Nadu, it is a customary practice among various Hindu communities to offer pigs in sacrifice to their clan and village deities. It is highly condemnable that the Tamil Nadu government, police, and revenue department are acting in coordination and siding with Islamic groups that incite communal unrest.
While there are restrictions in place prohibiting the slaughter of cows and goats in public spaces, in the same village, Muslims have routinely slaughtered cows in public streets every year. With Bakrid approaching in a few days, arrangements for cow sacrifice are reportedly underway, yet the Pollution Control Board and police have not taken any preventive action or issued warnings to stop it. In this context, will the Tamil Nadu government and the police, who impose bans on Hindu festivals and worship practices, also prevent animal sacrifices for Bakrid? We cannot accept the ongoing injustice and violations of Hindu religious rights by the Tamil Nadu government and police. Such repression is a blatant act of disrespect towards Hindu worship. We issue a strong warning that Hindu Munnani will mobilize the people and protest against this.”
அருந்ததியர் சமுதயாத்தின் வழிபாட்டு உரிமையை நசுக்கும் காவல்துறை..
தொடர்ந்து இந்துக்களின் வழிபாட்டு உரிமைகளை அவமதிக்கும் தமிழக அரசுக்கும், காவல்துறைக்கும் இந்துமுன்னணி கண்டனம்..
இந்துமுன்னணி மாநிலத்தலைவர் காடேஸ்வரா சுப்பிரமணியம் அவர்களின் பத்திரிக்கை அறிக்கை..… pic.twitter.com/zOGJkpKVEK
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) June 2, 2025
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