Karnataka: Upper castes were unhappy with the entry of Dalits in the temple, they removed the idol from the temple!
When Dalits entered the Kalabhairaveshwara Swamy temple in Mandya, upper caste people allegedly started protesting against them and took away the idol installed in the temple.
Published on: 11 Nov 2024, 4:07 pm
Mandya: The centuries-old Kalabhairaveswara Swamy temple at Hanakere village in Mandya district became a bone of controversy on Sunday after a section of the village began protesting against the entry of Dalits, forcing the idol of the ceremonial deity that is paraded during the temple’s festival murthi-mela to be shifted to a secure area within the temple premises.
However, the entry of Dalit community into the temple, which is managed by the Endowments Department, was allowed after a long meeting between government officials and police officers.
The meeting, held at Hanakere, about 13 km from Mandya city, was aimed at addressing the growing demand for inclusive entry into the temple.
Some villagers objected to the decision, citing old traditions and argued that a separate temple has already been established for the Dalit community in the village.
They expressed their disagreement by shifting the Utsava Murthi to another chamber, and said they had made financial contributions towards its maintenance. Amid the controversy and rising tension, the temple doors were closed around noon.
The temple was reopened by late afternoon, allowing devotees from all castes to participate in the rituals. Authorities also deployed heavy police force to ensure peace in the village.
Mandya Tehsildar Shivakumar Biradar said the situation will be brought under control peacefully and mutual understanding will be promoted in the community.
