Talks fail, Collector bans temple festival

Talks initiated by the State government in the wake of threats by a section of Dalits of Pazhag Kallimedu to embrace Islam if they were not given the right to hold the temple rituals for a day failed on Saturday, forcing the district administration to clamp a ban on the annual Aadi festival of Sri Badrakaliamman Temple.

Efforts were made by officials to engage caste Hindus (Pillaimars) and the Dalits in peace talks amid tight security.

However, both sides refused to budge from their respective positions.

Earlier, O.S.Manian, Minister for Handlooms and Textiles, visited Pazhag Kallimedu and persuaded the Dalits to take part in the negotiations.

After intensive consultation with the HR&CE Department officials, he suggested four options: Extending a day of the seven-day festival to facilitate the Dalits to hold mandagapadi on the extended day; jointly organising a day’s mandagapadi by caste Hindus and Dalits; allowing Dalits to hold mandagapadi from dawn to dusk for a day or restricting caste Hindus to hold mandapagadi for two days instead of three to allow a day for Dalits.

While the Dalits refused to accept the suggestion of dawn-to-dusk

mandagapadi and insisted on 24-hour duration, caste Hindus rejected other suggestions by stating that they could not deviate from traditional practices.