The Tamil Nadu Hindu Charitable & Endowments (HR&CE) department has claimed that for the first time ever, the Maha Sivarathri festival at the Kapaleeswarar Temple in Mylapore would be held with great pomp and show.
The poster shared by the HR&CE department reads states that various events would be held from the 6 PM on 1st March 2022 till the morning of the next day for the first time ever in history on the occassion of Maha Sivarathri.
It said that devotional music, darshan of Lord Siva, debates, Tamil Bhakti music, Bharatanatyam, devotional songs and folks songs would be there in the festival.
The poster has the images of Chief Minister MK Stalin and the late DMK patriarch Karunanidhi, both of whom are known for their anti-Hindu remarks, at the top and the image of HR&CE Minister Sekar Babu at the bottom.
However, it is to be noted that, contrary to the claims of ‘first time ever in history’, the Mahashivratri festival happens in a grand manner every year in all Sivan temples under the HR&CE department including the Kapaleeswarar Temple.
Political commentators say that the branding of Sivarathri festival by the DMK government is to be seen against the backdrop of the growth of BJP in Tamil Nadu.
Others point out that a ‘secular’ government cannot control and administer the affairs of one religion alone (Hinduism) while not interfering in the affairs of other faiths.
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