Tensions have surfaced in Malappuram district following provocative slogans raised during a victory procession by United Democratic Front (UDF) workers, including members of the Muslim League and the Indian National Congress, demanding that devotional songs played at Hindu temples be stopped.
The incident occurred at Edavanna in Malappuram district, near the Mahavishnu Temple at Kolappad, where early-morning devotional songs, including Suprabhatham, are traditionally played. The practice, common across Kerala, involves playing devotional music in temples during the early hours of the morning.
During a UDF victory celebration held after the alliance won a ward in the Edavanna panchayat, slogans were raised stating that songs played from temples should not be audible outside the premises and that such practices would be stopped. The slogans were raised in front of the Mahavishnu Temple during the procession.
Slogans raised during the event included statements asserting that loud devotional music from temples caused disturbance to residents and should not be allowed. The slogans were followed by chants of “UDF Zindabad.” Flags of both the Muslim League and the Indian National Congress were visible, and the procession was described as a joint UDF celebration involving workers from both parties.
The incident took place following UDF wins in the local body polls and it is noteworthy that the party is in the opposition in the Assembly. Critics say the slogans raised can be interpreted as indicating that if the UDF were to come to power in the state in future, practices such as playing devotional songs in temples would be curtailed.
Local sources stated that the Mahavishnu Temple at Kolappad has been playing early-morning devotional songs for years, typically around 5 AM, in a manner described as not causing disturbance. It was also stated that the temple committee had obtained the necessary police permissions to play the devotional music, and that the activity was being carried out in accordance with existing rules.
Despite this, UDF workers allegedly protested against the practice, claiming that the devotional songs caused inconvenience to local residents. The slogans were raised during the victory procession held after the UDF’s win in the ward, following which concerns were raised over interference with religious practices.
The incident has been projected as an example of what critics described as targeted opposition to Hindu religious practices. It was also noteworthy that Malappuram district has numerous mosques where the azan is broadcast five times a day using loudspeakers, and where religious programmes such as swalaath and other gatherings are conducted using amplified sound, including during night hours.
Critics argued that while such practices at mosques continue uninterrupted, objections were being raised specifically against early-morning devotional songs played at temples. They also noted that the protest involved not only Muslim League workers but also Congress workers, making it a collective UDF action rather than an isolated incident.
The event seems to be a political messaging being conveyed by the UDF following its electoral gains, particularly in areas where the alliance secured victories with the support of religious organisations. Observers claimed that the incident reflected a broader pattern of interference with Hindu religious practices and temples in the district.
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