In yet another instance of temple closures in Tamil Nadu, the Revenue Divisional Officer has ordered the sealing of the revered Maha Mariamman Temple in Tiruvarur district. The government’s intervention came after efforts to mediate a resolution between two conflicting communities failed.
Located in the Arasavanagkaadu area of Kudavasal Taluk, Tiruvarur District, the Maha Mariamman Temple has stood as a cultural and spiritual landmark for over a hundred years. Festivals, particularly during the Tamil month of Aadi, have been marked by fervent celebrations, with rituals such as “Kuthuvilakku Poojai” and “Kaavadi” being significant components of the observance. While the “Kaavadi” event took place recently, the “Kuthuvilakku Poojai” is scheduled for tomorrow.
According to reports, the dominant caste prevailing in the area has taken charge of organizing the temple events during the festival, with participation in the rituals being limited exclusively to individuals from that caste. However, residents belonging to the Scheduled Caste from the same locality have expressed their desire to engage in the temple rituals and have asserted their right to equal participation.
Demanding equal rights, members of the scheduled caste community started a rodo roko on the Thiruvarur-Kumbakonam highway.
In this situation, Tiruvarur MLA Poondi Kalaivaanan, Revenue Divisional officer Sangeetha, Kudavasal Tahsildar, and other police officers engaged to mediate with both communities. However, no solution was reached. Hence the revenue officials sealed the temple.
This marks yet another instance of temple closure under the DMK government’s tenure. Incidentally, Tiruvarur is also the home district of the late DMK patriarch Karunanidhi.
Just weeks ago, the Melpathi Droupathi Amman Temple in Vizhupuram district was similarly sealed after discord between Vanniyar and Scheduled Caste communities regarding temple entry.
Critics and netizens alike have highlighted the differing approaches by authorities in various temple closures. They point to the case of the Chidambaram Dikshithar Temple, where police were forcefully used when devotees were temporarily barred from using the ‘Kanagasabai’ by the temple administration. The contrast between the forceful entry into the Chidambaram Temple and the apparent neutrality exercised by sealing the temple in the case of the Droupathi Amman and Maha Mariamman Temples has drawn skepticism from many quarters.
Several people argued that the DMK government aimed to avoid confrontation with the politically significant so-called ‘backward’ communities by sealing the temples and maintaining a neutral stance, while it entered into Chidambaram temple as it is owned by the microscopic minoity Deekshitars.
In a recent development, the Kudavasal police on Saturday (Aug 12) lodged a First Information Report (FIR) under two sections against the Dalit individuals who staged a road protest, demanding access to the temple. This action taken by the DMK administration has faced significant backlash from the public at large. Many have criticized the DMK government for opting to file FIR against the protesting Dalit group rather than against those responsible for obstructing their entry into the temple.
#JUSTIN || திருவாரூர் அருகே அரசவனங்காடு கிராமத்தில், கோயில் விழாவில் பட்டியலின மக்களுக்கு அனுமதி மறுக்கப்பட்ட விவகாரம்
போராட்டத்தில் ஈடுபட்ட பட்டியலின மக்கள் 35 பேர் மீது 2 பிரிவுகளின் கீழ் குடவாசல் போலீசார் வழக்குப்பதிவு#thiruvarur | #templefunction pic.twitter.com/qeF3zcH7NC
— Thanthi TV (@ThanthiTV) August 12, 2023
(with inputs from Thanthi TV)
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