Priests perform purification ritual after Dalit man takes bath in temple pond

Kozhikode: A purification ritual was performed at a temple in Kozhikode by the priests after a Dalit man took a bath in the temple pond.

The incident happened at the Kondamvalli Ayyappa Temple, near Koyilandi in Kozhikode, on January 26, 2016.

“A committee was formed to renovate the temple pond, which was lying in a dilapidated state. A Dalit man was chosen as the president of the committee. The temple authorities later removed him from the post after the completion of the first phase of renovation works. Later, they finished the renovation work and dedicated the pond to the temple on October 17, 2015. The dedication ceremony was conducted by the priests. As part of the ceremony, it was the Dalit man who had given Dakshina to the temple Tantri and he had conducted the snanam (bathing),” Dalit leaders said at a press meeting.

“However, there were some people who were not satisfied with a Dalit man performing snanam (bathing). So, they organised a rededication ceremony on January 26. They organised a purification puja in the temple pond. The snanam (bathing) ritual was then conducted by an upper caste man. Neither the temple committee nor the temple Tantri was aware of it,” they said alleging that it was part of a move to bring back the caste system in Kerala.

“The rededication ceremony was conducted by Koomulli Karunaakaran, president of Chengottukaavu grama panchayat. Former MLA P.Vishwan was also present at the event,” they said.

“Dalits and other social activists should come forward against such move,” they added.

Bharathiya Pattika Samajan leaders M.M Sreedharan, P.M.B Naderi and Saseendran Bappankaavu were present at the press meeting.