Over 300 Dalits Defy 80 Years Ban To Enter Tamil Nadu Temple

Thiruvannamalai: Despite protests from upper caste communities, about 300 members of the Scheduled Caste (SC) entered a temple in Tamil Nadu under full police protection on Sunday.

A 12-day festival is held each year during Pongal at the Muthu Mariyamman Temple at Thandarampattu in Thiruvannamalai, which is managed by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Board.

But for the previous 80 years, Dalit families were denied admission to the temple; this year, community members asked the village leaders for approval so that they might take part in the festival for one day and gain access to the temple.

They sought Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) authorities in Thiruvannamalai and filed a petition after the village chiefs refused, which sparked an investigation.

HR&CE authorities made the decision to ensure that Dalits were permitted admission after learning that Dalits were not permitted into the shrine.

Upper-caste communities voiced their displeasure after government representatives reaffirmed that everyone has a right to visit temples.

A number of Dalit families entered the temple bringing garlands and ingredients for Pongal and had the deity’s darshan.