Pujas halted as Dalit youths enter temple near Chikkamagaluru

Chikkamagaluru: Worship has been halted for two days at the Tirumala Temple in Narsipura village, after a few dalit youths entered the premisis. Officials are attempting to persuade villagers to resume the rituals.

In Narsipura, near Belavadi, there are over 250 Kuruba community families and 13 scheduled caste (Adi Karnataka) families. The village has nine small temples, including Tirumala, Beerappa, and Lakshmidevi. The Tirumala temple is the main shrine, managed by priests appointed through the Muzrai Department.

"The practice of untouchability is illegal, and all castes have free access to temples," stated a sign installed by the Muzrai Department in all temples. Officials came to install such a sign in our village temple, but it hasn't been installed for two years. Hence, we submitted a request to the Tahsildar," said dalit youth Hemant Kumar.

On Tuesday evening, Tahsildar Sumanth brought two dalit youths inside the temple. Villagers who had given the temple key hesitated to take it back. Since then, the daily morning and evening worship has been halted. Priests from the Kuruba community conduct rituals at Tirumala and surrounding temples, but none have been held since then.

On Thursday morning, officials from the Muzrai, Social Welfare, and Revenue Departments held a meeting with both communities. They emphasized that temples are open to all and warned that denying entry would be considered practicing untouchability, warranting legal action.

"Those who haven't entered the temple before are now asking to enter. Let them manage everything, including festivals and rituals," insisted the Kuruba community.

"We are only asking to stand inside the temple like everyone else. Conducting rituals is not our responsibility, nor do we want other duties," said the dalit youths.

Officials tried to persuade villagers, stating, "Untouchability is illegal, and temples are open to all. Villagers must understand." When reconciliation failed, they reported to higher authorities and left.

By evening, Assistant Commissioner Daljit Kumar, Tahsildar Sumanth, and DYSP Shailendra, among others, arrived. They reiterated that temples are open to all and that excluding anyone is not possible. Legal action would cause trouble for everyone. Eventually, villagers agreed.

"Since worship has been halted for two days, it cannot resume directly. Priests must perform purification rituals first. Daily worship will resume only after these rituals," villagers stated.

"We have been temporarily granted entry. The Tahsildar has promised a separate site for an Ambedkar Bhavan. If temple entry is denied again, we will pursue legal action," Hemant Kumar stated.