For the first time, offering broomstick to St. Thomas Church under Sirunaickenpatti Parish as part of the church festival, a 150-year-old ritual, has been cancelled owing to a dispute between two sections of Christians at the village near here. The ceremony was to commence on Sunday morning. Following disagreement between two groups and the ensuing tension in the village over the past two days, a heavy posse of police has been deployed.
Normally during the festival, all sections of people, irrespective of their religion, caste and community in Dindigul and many surrounding villages will stand in a long queue and offer broomstick to the church, believing that St. Thomas will wipe out diseases and pain from their body and mind just as a broomstick cleans dust on the floor. Pepper, salt and candles will also be offered. The festival, which was scheduled to commence on April 28 with ‘thiru bali’, did not take off due to a dispute over rights and control of church.
While a section of people residing near the church claimed that the church was their property, another section of people at Sirunaickanpatti village said it had been under the control of the Parish at their village for a long time. When the two rival groups approached the court for remedy, it directed them to solve the crisis through negotiation before conducting the festival.
The situation turned worse when a Deputy Superintendent Police, who went for negotiation, was detained inside the church by local people two days ago. Later, he was rescued.
At a peace committee meeting, both sides stuck to their stand and refused to accept any amicable solution. Meanwhile, the police informed the court that they could not ensure full protection during the festival as the situation was very tense. Hence, the festival was called off.
Even last year, the church faced similar problem as rivals had filed a case in Dindigul court pressing for the same demand. But Sirunaickanpatti villagers produced records and documents from the Parish and obtained court permission for conducting the festival.
