Dalits Enter Tamil Nadu Temple After Intervention of Collector

Chennai: Caste-based discrimination exists even now. Dalits in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvallur were not allowed to enter the Ettiamman Temple. They were allowed entry into the temple only after the intervention of the administration. The Dalits entered the temple and offered prayers along with the District Collector on Monday.

The kumbabishekam ritual in the Ettiamman Temple was held on August 9. The Dalits of the area alleged that they were not allowed to enter the temple. Later, it was decided that higher caste Hindus would offer their prayers first and then the Dalits would follow.

However, on the day of the kumbhabhishekam, Dalits were not allowed to enter the temple by upper castes, which led to tension in the area.

The district administration intervened and sealed the temple to prevent escalation of tension as the Ettiamman temple is maintained by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CE).

Members of the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front declared that as a mark of protest they would forcefully enter the temple on September 20 as a mark of protest.

Following this, Tiruvallur District Collector T Prabhu Shankar held a meeting of all concerned parties and decided to provide entry for Dalits into the temple.

The collector directed officials to unseal the temple and offered his prayers along with the Dalits.