Thrissur: In a radical initiative, Kerala Devaswom Recruitment Board appointed a Thakil performer from the dalit community at Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple. Temple sources said it was for the first time that an artist from the community was appointed at Guruvayur to a post related to daily rituals of the temple.
Karuvannur Melepurakkal Satheesh from Erumapetty said he has already taken up his job. “It is a blessing of Lord Guruvayurappan. I’m getting good cooperation from other temple staff,” he said.
Usually artists from communities like Marar and Poduvals are posted at Guruvayur temple for performances associated with the daily puja rituals. These posts are generally filled by members belonging to the families that enjoy hereditary rights. This latest change happened after permanent appointments at Guruvayur were taken over by Kerala Devaswom Recruitment Board. Till then, Guruvayur Devaswom managing committee was authorised to recruit staff.
However, artists from ‘marginalized sections’ can perform only at the immediate area inside the temple compound wall. Only artists from the upper castes can perform inside the nalambalam.
There were several protests in the past against the long-standing practice of Guruvayur Devaswom not to permit artists belonging to dalit sections and other communities like Ezhavas to play percussion instruments within the temple. There was a protest in November 2020, when Thimila exponent Peringode Chandran was permitted to perform within the ‘Chuttambalam’ area of the temple.
Courtesy: The Times Of India
Note: This news piece was originally punished in timesofindia.indiatimes.com and use purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes exclusively for Human Rights objectives.
