Scheduled Caste Residents Demand Equal Rights in Tamil Nadu Temple Festival

Scheduled Caste residents in Tiruvarur district, India, staged a protest against the denial of their role in a temple festival. They demanded equal rights and administrative involvement in the temple's affairs. The protesters, comprising men, women, and elders, sat in at the Sri Koothaiyanar Temple, refusing to disperse until their demands were met. Tamil Nadu Agricultural Workers Union and CPM officials backed the protest, calling it "institutionalised exclusion." The tahsildar intervened and a peace meeting was convened for June 12. The temple festival was postponed.

Scheduled Caste (SC) residents in Tiruvarur district, India, have staged a protest against the denial of their role in the annual temple festival at Sri Koothaiyanar Temple in Thittanimuttam village. The protesters, comprising men, women, and elders, sat in at the temple premises, refusing to disperse until their demands for equal rights and administrative involvement in the temple's affairs were met.

The SC community has sought representation in the temple's management for over five years, but their demands have been opposed by a section of Backward Classes (BC) and Most Backward Class (MBC) residents who have long managed the temple’s affairs. The protesters argue that they are excluded from temple committees and rituals, despite paying temple taxes for festivals. They are also not allowed to carry pāl kudam (milk pots) during the festivals, a right they believe should be extended to them.

Support for the protest came from Tamil Nadu Agricultural Workers Union district president S. Thambusamy and CPM’s unit secretary K. Gopinath, who called the exclusion "institutionalised." The tahsildar, S. Vasumathi, intervened and assured that a peace meeting would be convened by the Mannargudi Revenue Divisional Officer on June 12, prompting the SC residents to temporarily call off the protest. The temple festival has been postponed until the meeting.

The protest highlights the ongoing struggle for equal representation and rights among SC communities in India, particularly in matters concerning religious institutions. The intervention of the tahsildar and the postponement of the festival indicate a step towards addressing these concerns, though a resolution remains to be seen.

References:
[1] https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/scheduled-caste-residents-stage-protest-against-denial-of-role-in-temple-festival-at-thittanimuttam-in-tiruvarur-district/article69675115.ece