With the entire nation gearing up for the consecration of the grand Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya on 22 January 2024, a report by Tamil news daily Dinamalar has shocked devotees which says that the DMK government in Tamil Nadu has issued ‘verbal orders’ unofficially to prohibit Annadanam (free food) and other special poojas in temples marking the ceremony.
This ‘unofficial verbal’ directive explicitly prohibits any temple under the ambit of Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department from conducting special prayers & poojas, offering Annadanam, or organizing related programs on 22 January 2024. This move has sparked considerable dissatisfaction among the devotees.
Usually, during major festivals and occasions, devotees, Hindu organizations, social activists, political parties in their respective areas arrange for special poojas, bhajans and offer Annadanam at the local temples with funds from their own pockets and the public.
According to Dinamalar’s report, the Tamil Nadu government has ‘verbally warned temple administrators that no programs, whether on behalf of the temple administration, devotees, organizations, or parties, should be conducted.
“No special puja, offering of Annadanam and any related programs should be held in Tamil Nadu temples on the occasion of the opening ceremony of Ayodhya Ram temple. No program should be held on behalf of the temple administration or in the name of devotees or in the name of organizations or parties. It should not be advertised and bannered. Action will be taken against the concerned temple executive if any activities including Annadanam are done in violation.“, temple executives have been warned states the Dinamalar report.
Dinamalar report also stated that the police are actively preventing the live telecast of the Ayodhya festival on big screens in public places.
This has prompted various devotees and BJP leaders to express their discontent on social media. They question the legal basis for the Tamil Nadu government’s authority to prohibit special pujas in temples, asserting that no government should have the right to impede the worship of Lord Rama on this historic day. Some even indicate a willingness to conduct special pujas in defiance of the ban if it persists.
However, in numerous locations across Tamil Nadu, police have denied permission to hold special prayers and Annadanam in the temples.
One such instance from Thoothukudi (DMK MP Kanimozhi’s constituency) has come to light.
In the above letter, BJP functionary Mari Duraisamy and one Revathi Selvakrishnan had asked permission from the local police for special poojas and bhajan programmes to be held at the Then Thirupperai Perumal Temple.
The police denied permission saying three reasons:
- permission (from police) should’ve been sought 15 days before
- since temple is ‘owned’ by HR&CE department, permission letter from them should’ve also been taken which was not done
- since there is a law & order issue in Srivaikuntam region, Section 30(2) of CrPC is in effect
The police have stated that strict action would be taken against those who violate and hold the events at the temple.
BJP Tamil Nadu President K. Annamalai condemned the DMK government saying, “It seems that the DMK government, which is engaged in anti-Hindu activities in the name of running a secular government, has banned special pujas and food offerings in Tamil Nadu temples. What right does the DMK government have to interfere in temple practices? Apart from that, it is said that the police should not hold any program on behalf of the temple administration or the public in Tamil Nadu in view of the installation of the statue of Sri Ram and should not broadcast live through a big screen for the public to see.”
He further said “Temples in Tamil Nadu belong to devotees. I would like to remind you that the DMK government has no right to interfere unnecessarily in the temple procedures or to interfere with the worship practices. People of other faiths will not want to prevent the fundamental right of Hindus from worshiping in temples. Who is the DMK government trying to satisfy in this divisive effort? I urge DMK to give up its petty activities of pissing off Hindu people once a month. Disregarding DMK’s ban, I would like to inform you that for the Ayodhya Sri Ram temple festival, special pujas and charity work including Annadanam will continue in Tamil Nadu temples.”
நாளைய தினம் அயோத்தியில் ஸ்ரீராமர் திருவுருவச் சிலை, நமது மாண்புமிகு பாரதப் பிரதமர் திரு @narendramodi அவர்களால் பிரதிஷ்டை செய்யப்படுவதை அடுத்து, நாடே விழாக்கோலம் பூண்டுள்ளது. சாதி மத வேறுபாடின்றி, மக்கள் அனைவரும் இந்த புண்ணிய தினத்தை வரவேற்கின்றனர். பல ஆண்டு காலமாக நாட்டு மக்கள்…
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) January 21, 2024
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