Dalits enter Mandya temple, upset villagers shift idols out

Mandya: Opposing the entry of Dalits to centuries-old Kalabhairaveshwara Swamy temple, a section of villagers shifted ‘Utsava Murthi’ – the deities which are carried around the town on big temple festival days – to a safer place within the shrine’s premises in Mandya district’s Hanakere village Sunday.

The Dalits were allowed to enter the temple managed by the endowment department after a marathon meeting attended by govt officials and police officers at Hanakere, 13km from Mandya town, on Sunday.

According to villagers, the temple has a history of hundreds of years and was renovated recently under the leadership of former Congress MLA M Srinivas. Some villagers opposed Dalits’ entry citing traditions and also that a separate temple had been built for Dalits in the village.

Upset by the decision to allow Dalits to enter temple, some villagers relocated the Utsava Murthi to a separate chamber saying they had spent money on it. Following chaos, the temple was shut for a few hours around noon.

The temple doors were reopened later in the day and all rituals were carried out as usual. Devotees from all castes were allowed to enter the temple. As a precautionary measure, police personnel were deputed in the village.

Tahsildar Shivakumar Beeradar expressed confidence in resolving the issue amicably.

Courtesy : TOI

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