Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

Kandadevi fete: can this year's success be repeated?

S. Vijay Kumar

Intelligence, extensive groundwork ensured peace

MADURAI: It was hard intelligence and extensive groundwork that paved the way for the peaceful conduct of the Kandadevi temple car festival in Sivaganga district on July 9.

Perhaps, for the first time in recent years, a sizeable number of Dalits were allowed to take part in the car-pulling event. The 10-day Swarnamurtheeswarar Temple festival concluded on a peaceful note on Monday.

The issue, over the years, has been that the Dalits were allegedly deprived of their opportunity to participate in the car festival.

Despite orders from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) Department and the Madras High Court to ensure the participation of all communities, the `nattars' of four `nadus' (regions), who claim traditional right over the festival, refused to allow Dalit participation.

Adamant `nattars'

For four consecutive years since 1998, the car festival could not be held as the `nattars' were in no mood to allow Dalits to touch the `vadams' (ropes). Though the temple car did run on a few occasions after 2001, it was with token Dalit representation.

It was, perhaps, this discrimination that prompted a human rights organisation to move the court again.

In a recent order, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court reiterated the judgment of the principal seat and directed that all communities should be allowed to take part in the car festival.

There should be no room for complaints of token representation.

`Nattars' of Unjanai, Semponmari, Thennilai and Eravuseni `nadus' participate in large numbers in the festival.

Each year, the Kandadevi festival not only has put the police and the district administration on tenterhooks but also sparks off tension in adjoining districts.

Human chain

On July 9, soon after the temple honours were accorded to representatives of four `nadus,' at least 100 Dalits were allowed to hold the chains of the majestic car.

The Unjanai `nadu' people formed a human chain to protect the Dalit participants all through the run around the temple tank. However, at one point, some youths raised provocative slogans against the Dalits that gave some tense moments to the police.

It was at least a month's groundwork for the police. Top officials, including Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order) K.V.S. Murthy, Inspector-General of Police (South Zone) Sanjeev Kumar and DIG (Intelligence) A.K. Viswanathan jointly worked on a meticulous plan to arrive at an amicable solution between the two groups.

Several rounds of talks

"It was after several rounds of talks that a section of `nattars' agreed to allow Dalits to participate. But for police intelligence and the High Court order, this would not have been possible," said Sivaganga Collector M.A. Siddique.

Will this agreement continue in the years to come? "We are confident that the number [of Dalits participating in the festival] will go up next year. The `nattars' seem to have understood the spirit of the High Court order," Mr. Siddique added.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Kandadevi fete: can this year's success be repeated?
Helpline in All Women Police Stations soon
Movement to press for National Land Authority
Preparations for next census by year-end
University detects fake marksheet of B.Com.
PG students get a chance to improve their score
Notification to amend police service rules challenged
High alert in Temple City following Mumbai blasts
Traffic diversions
Stargazing at galatta.com
Contact classes postponed
Physical education directors' meet
Around the City
In Madurai Today

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu