Hindu group's planned conference on Lord Murugan wades into row as Tamil Nadu cops impose conditions

Chennai: After the 'rationalist' DMK government organised a global conference on Lord Murugan in 2024, it is now the turn of Hindu groups to invoke the Tamil god—believed to have lived in six abodes across the Tamil landscape—through a 10-day-long event in the ancient city of Madurai from June 22.

Billed as Muruga Bakthargalin Aanmeega Maanadu (Spiritual Conference of Devotees of Murugan), the event is now embroiled in controversy, with the Tamil Nadu Police imposing several conditions, including restricting the program to three days. The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, on June 13, gave its clearance for the conference but instructed the organisers, Hindu Munnani, to comply with the conditions imposed by the Madurai Police while granting permission for the event.

The BJP has accused the DMK government of trying to stall the event, but the police maintain that their objections are solely to ensure the safety of participants and to prevent a stampede-like situation.

Since Murugan is a household name in the state, the DMK government organised a two-day conference on the Tamil god in August 2024 as part of its efforts to shed its 'anti-Hindu' tag and to mitigate the fallout from party leader Udhayanidhi Stalin’s controversial remarks against Sanatana Dharma.

Organising a conference for Murugan also suited the DMK’s linguistic politics, as he is widely believed to have lived in his six abodes across present-day Tamil Nadu, known as arupadai veedu. However, the conference drew criticism from the DMK’s own allies, who argued that a secular government should not be involved in conducting religious conferences.

The upcoming event will feature the recital of Kandha Shashti Kavasam, a song in praise of Lord Murugan, and Thiruppugazh, along with the likely participation of leaders such as Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, who seeks to emerge as a Hindutva icon, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Hindu Munnani, one of the oldest Hindu organisations in the state, is known for organising massive celebrations for Ganesh Chaturthi. Though Hindu Munnani is the organiser, it is BJP leaders who are travelling across the country inviting chief ministers and deputy chief ministers of BJP-ruled states to the conference.

The BJP believes that a conference on Lord Murugan a year ahead of assembly elections will give the party political mileage, although a similar attempt in 2020, when its leaders organised a Vel yatra across the state, failed to make an impact.

The BJP had previously tried to capitalise on controversy surrounding Kandha Shashti Kavasam after a YouTuber made disparaging remarks about the devotional song. The party’s efforts to politicise the controversy over Muslim leaders allegedly consuming meat at Thiruparankundram, one of Murugan’s abodes, also failed, as locals made it clear they would not succumb to the “communal agenda” of political and religious outfits.

Considered the Tamil god, Lord Murugan is one of the most worshipped deities in the state, transcending caste lines, particularly among backward communities. “We have been consistently talking about Lord Murugan and there is nothing new about it. We want the conference to send a loud message,” a BJP leader told DH.