Amid tight security cover provided by police, Dalits of Panthapuli village near Sankarankovil sacrificed goats and offered ‘pongal' at the Kannanallur Mariamman temple on Tuesday.
Villagers belonging to other communities, who left their hamlet on Sunday in a huff against the members of “oppressed community” entering the 100-year old temple, continued their agitation on the Yettisery hillock for the third day.
With the law-enforcers led by Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Tirunelveli Range, K.P. Shanmugarajeswaran, Superintendent of Police Asra Garg and other police personnel providing the Dalits protection for the past few days, they came prepared for offering ‘pongal' in front of the temple.
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Following ‘abhishekam' to the presiding deity, three goats were sacrificed and ‘pongal' was offered after 9 a.m.
Police protection
After the celebration, the Dalits returned home with police protection.
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The members of the other communities have announced that they will not come down to their village until the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court resolved the dispute.