Thiruvananthapuram. As the govt administration issued a notice to a temple not to use saffron colour for the decorations in a temple festival, devotees gave them a befitting reply by wearing saffron-coloured dresses during the temple procession. The incident happened during the Kaliyut Mahotsav at Vellayani Bhadrakali Devi Temple.
The police had earlier issued a notice saying that saffron-colored flags and other decorations are prohibited during the temple festival. There was also a strict instruction that devotees should not come wearing saffron. In the meeting presided over by the Deputy Collector, the government also demanded to remove saffron poles and flags from the temple.
The Deputy Collector, who is also the Additional District Magistrate, directed that decorations should be done in a politically neutral manner and that saffron color should not be used by devotees. After this, the Nemam police issued a notice informing that a case will be registered against the temple committee secretary Vignesh M.S. Vignesh.
During Vellayani Devi temple festival, #KeralaPolice came with a 'ban order': 'saffron' shouldn't be seen near the temple… at that time all decorations were in saffron. Police was adamant, wants to remove all. See the video, how Hindus responded, everyone came in #Saffron. pic.twitter.com/6zerwN1WHh
— KVS HARIDAS (@keveeyes) February 13, 2023
All the participants of the festival, regardless of whether they were male or female, protested by wearing saffron colored clothes. Women wore orange colored blouses and sarees. All the men came to participate in the procession dressed in saffron. Children, teenagers and young women came dressed in saffron. Pandals made of saffron cloth were used for the festival.
Vellayani Bhadrakali Devi Temple is located near the Vellayani Lake which attracts a number of pilgrims. The temple is located under the Devaswom Board.
Former DGP Jacob Thomas and others protested on Twitter, saying that it was extremely disrespectful for the government to interfere in the ritual followed by the temple for centuries.
Input Courtesy – Indusscrolls
