'A misunderstanding': Devaswom board clarifies as Mohanlal’s Sabarimala offering for Mammootty sparks row

Thiruvananthapuram: Amidst attempts by some quarters to trigger communal row over an offering made by ace Malayalam actor Mohanlal for his colleague and ace actor Mammootty at Sabarimala Ayyappa temple, Mohanlal expressed his displeasure over the details of the offering going public.

With Mohanlal stating that the receipt of the offering became public through some temple officials, the Travancore Devaswom Board that manages the temple has issued a clarification that the receipt was not leaked from their side.

Mohanlal performed an 'usha pooja' in Mammootty's name when he visited the hill shrine on March 18. Mammootty's official name Muhammed Kutty and his birth star 'Visakham' was mentioned in the receipt. The receipt issued from the Devaswom office went viral on social media.

Though it was widely shared as yet another instance of communal harmony, a section had raised concerns over it citing Islamic beliefs as Mammootty hailed from the Muslim community.

Reacting to a question regarding the offering at a promotional event of his new film Empuran in Chennai on Monday, Mohanlal said it was a very personal gesture that he prayed for his friend. He also lamented that the receipt got leaked through some Devaswom staff.

Mohanlal also clarified that Mammootty had some minor health issues like any one could suffer and there was nothing to worry about.

The Travancore Devaswom Board, on Tuesday, said in a statement that it was the portion of the receipt issued to devotees that was found to be spreading through the media. The temple staff will only have the counter foil with them. It could be due to a misunderstanding that Mohanlal made such a statement. Hopefully he will correct it, said the statement.

A temple official told DH that the ongoing discussions itself were unfortunate as Sabarimala is a worship place open to all and devotees from all religions perform poojas there. Moreover, Sabarimala is a place where a shrine of Vavarswami, who is believed to be a Muslim, is also located in the premises of Ayyappa temple.