Guruvayur Devaswom chairman T.V. Chandramohan on Saturday condemned reports alleging that an artiste was not allowed to take part in a Panchavadyam performance at the Edatharikathu Kavu temple under the Guruvayur Sreekrishna temple because he was a Dalit.
Kaloor Babu, an Elathalam artiste, had complained that he was prevented from performing at the temple on January 5 night.
In a statement, Mr. Chandramohan said the decision was not in any way against Dalits. “In temple rites, upper caste Hindus too have to face certain restrictions,” he said.
He recalled an agitation led by Swami Bhoomananda Theertha, head of the Narayanashrama Tapovanam, 25 years ago in connection with certain practices in the presentation of traditional ensembles in temples. “Panchavadyam was presented at the Bhagavathy temple as an outcome. In the past 25 years, there has been no violation of the practices,” he added.
