[Image Credit: BBC Tamil]
Disputes have surfaced in the Gudiyatham area of Vellore district following objections from local mosque members to the sacrificial offering of a pig during a nearby temple festival.
Jittapalli, a village near Chempalli in Gudiyatham taluk, is home to over 300 families. At its center stands a small Kaliamman temple beneath a peepal tree. Plans were made to celebrate a temple festival there from 28 May 2025 to 1 June 2025. Villagers also began constructing a boundary wall and improving the temple premises.
However, members of the mosque raised objections to the construction activity. Kaliamman temple representative Pachai Thamizhan stated that the temple was situated on government land categorized as “Natham Purambokku” and that permission had been granted by the Revenue Department as far back as 1998. He added that attempts to renovate the temple in previous years had been stalled due to objections from members of the Muslim community.
Despite this, festival preparations went ahead, including the distribution of invitations for the 125th annual Kaliamman Temple Festival. Anticipating possible tensions, peace talks were arranged by Kudiyatham Revenue Commissioner Suba lakshmi on 27 May.
Pig Sacrifice Sparks Controversy
Thamizhan emphasized that as part of the traditional worship of their deity Muneeswaran, villagers conduct a three-day ritual involving the sacrifice of a goat, chicken, and pig. “Out of respect for the nearby mosque, we have usually performed the pig sacrifice outside the village and brought it to the temple afterward,” said local resident Karpagam. “But this year, due to the mosque’s opposition to temple construction, we decided to carry out the pig sacrifice near the temple itself on 1 June.”
The members of the mosque strongly opposed this action and reported it to the police. Officers led by Deputy Superintendent Suresh intervened and prevented the pig from being sacrificed. According to Karpagam, villagers faced restrictions and were not even allowed to gather freely in the area during the following days.
Pachai Thamizhan claimed that while police had come to ensure order during the festival, a case was filed against six people, including himself, for allegedly obstructing officials. However, he argued that no action had been taken against the mosque administrators. Thamizhan, who was briefly jailed, was later released on bail by the Gudiyatham Magistrate Court.
Mosque’s Position
In response, mosque administrator Sadiq Badsha denied all accusations made by the villagers. He explained that their objection was not against the religious festival itself but rather against the temple authorities’ attempt to build a wall around a nearby public well.
Sadiq Badsha, administrator of the Jittapalli Mecca Majeed Mosque, explained, “Our mosque has existed here for over 90 years. We only opposed the encroachment near the well. A complaint was submitted to the Revenue Department, and a district magistrate inspection confirmed that no permission could be given for the wall.” Badsha reiterated that their only request was that pigs not be sacrificed in the area, as it deeply offended the sentiments of the Muslim community. “We do not oppose the temple festivities. During discussions with the Revenue Department, they informed us that a goat and chicken would be sacrificed. Instead, an attempt was made to sacrifice a pig near our mosque, which has sparked the controversy,” he said. He also clarified that the police cases were unrelated to any actions by the mosque.
Official Statements
Revenue Commissioner Suba Lakshmi said that the community was advised to adhere to longstanding traditions and avoid introducing new customs that might create conflict. “They’ve celebrated this festival peacefully for years. We simply told them not to change that pattern,” she said.
She confirmed that the land on which the temple stands is classified as government property and that permission must be officially obtained for any construction.
Deputy Superintendent Suresh added that the villagers had not attempted to sacrifice a pig during the festival last year and were expected to follow the same practice this year. “They initially agreed but later changed their plan, which led to the unrest,” he said. The case, he clarified, was filed due to obstruction of official duties and use of defamatory language.
(With inputs from BBC Tamil)
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