The devotees who arrived to witness the divine union of their beloved deities, Meenakshi and Sundareswarar, grew agitated over what seemed like wanton neglect from the HR&CE and the administration of the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple. They felt sidelined, witnessing preferential treatment extended to so-called VIPs and politicians, despite having paid for the same services.
The renowned Chithirai Festival of the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple commenced on 12 April 2024 with the ceremonial flag hoisting and lasts until 23 April 2024, featuring the highlight event of Meenakshi Thirukalyanam, scheduled for 21st April from 8:35 AM to 8:59 AM during the auspicious Rishaba Lagna. The temple administration facilitated devotees to reserve slots online to witness the sacred Meenakshi Thirukalyanam. According to the notification issued, individuals holding a fee receipt of ₹500 between 5:00 AM and 7:00 AM could access the temple via the North Gopuram, while those with a receipt of ₹200 were permitted through the northeastern Gopuram, following the path near Chitrai Street. Additionally, devotees opting for free darshan were accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis through the South Gopuram. Reservations were open from 9th to 13th April 2024 on the HR&CE website (hrce.tn.gov.in) and the temple’s official website (maduraimeenakshi.hrce.tn.gov.in). Furthermore, monetary gifts (Moi) for the Thirukalyanam, amounting to ₹50 and ₹100, were to be made online starting from 21 April 2024.
Devotees adhered to the instructions and procured tokens within their financial means as per the administration’s directives. On 21 April 2024, they eagerly queued up, anticipating the sacred union. Despite the approaching auspicious moment, they found themselves waiting for an extended duration, growing increasingly restless. The explanation provided was that VIPs were partaking in the Darshan, causing devotees to endure the delay.
In an interview with Behindwoods Air YouTube channel a female devotee expressed her frustration, stating, “Sir, we are inside this from 6’O clock, they are allowing all the VIPs inside, we also came with VIP pass, no one let us in” Before she could finish, an elderly female devotee interjected, sharing her distress, “It’s been two hours! They are confining us like sheep and cattle. At least half an hour is fine will they shut us like this I feel like fainting” The first woman devotee added, “If they’re prioritizing VIPs, they shouldn’t have issued passes to us. It’s suffocating in here.”
Another female devotee exclaimed, “There are elderly here, how long they will suffer here? we just saying to leave us out, don’t let us in, let us out. It’s your fault for issuing the token, since you’ve given us the token, allow us in. It’s been three hours already, we’ve been standing in line for three hours. Don’t they have a little conscience? Can’t go to the bathroom, can’t do anything, small children are fainting”
Another male devotee expressed his frustration, “Actually they have issued this pass and made us stand in the line, they are allowing families of VVIPs there. So they could’ve left without issuing this pass right! here it is (showing the pass), what they have given in it, in the name of the trust. They have given it to these many people, at least they could’ve formalize and send us in, right? Are all these people waiting to see after the wedding?” Another women devotee intervened and shared her anger, “They are sending only VIPs as if they’re the only ones human. Aren’t we human too?” The male devotee continued, “Tell them not to give the pass, let them serve the VIPs and perform wedding but the marriage is for public to see, right? We are standing here for three hours.” The female devotee interjected again and added, “We came here 5:30 AM, should only the politicians standing there see the deity, shouldn’t we see the deity too?”
Another male devotee, visibly upset, exclaimed, “We don’t even need to see the deity! Just let us out! The elderly have been stuck here for three hours. There are diabetic patients here! Why are they giving us passes? Why should we suffer like this? It’s unnecessary! It’s suffocating, we can’t even breathe! We’ve been standing since 5:30!”
This was in Madurai Temple.
Being a Hindu and wanting to worship in a temple has been turned into a curse by DMK.
The lady says, let us out we don't want darshan, our kids are fainting in this heat, it's been 3 hrs since u locked us up in the name of special dharshan. pic.twitter.com/8iq6iiev7g
— Indu Makkal Katchi (Offl) 🇮🇳Modi Ka Parivar (@Indumakalktchi) April 24, 2024
Despite the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court ruling in 2022 emphasizing that only ‘God’ holds VIP status within temples. The court explicitly stated that no individual, whether temple employees or government officials, should abuse VIP entry passes. According to the ruling, temple staff should avail themselves of darshan either through the paid queue or the free queue alongside other devotees. However, despite this directive, during festival seasons, it is often the impoverished devotees who bear the brunt of long queues and extended waiting periods. This leads to frustration as they seek solace and peace through prayers to their chosen deity, often utilizing their limited funds. Meanwhile, VIPs and temple authorities prioritize their convenience, disregarding the devotees and thereby violating the HR&CE Act and committing what could be seen as a spiritual transgression.
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