Thiruvananthapuram: The Travancore Devaswom Board has come out with yet another ban that aims at controlling Hindu devotees and the temples where they worship. In a strange circular released by the Devaswom Board, the temple premises cannot be used to conduct ‘Nama Japa’ (mantra chanting) protests and also flags and banners of a single color cannot be used. In addition, the circular demands that the order of the Devaswom Vigilance must be executed and for this legal service must be used.
Hindu temples in Kerala are mostly decorated with saffron-color flags and banners when there is a festival or other celebrations.
Since the Sabarimala agitation, the Devaswom Board and the government are weary of the gatherings of Hindu devotees. The devotees have used ‘Nama Japa’ as a form of protest against CPI(M) leaders and officials of Devaswom Board, who try to execute communist agenda in temples. The Hindu devotees have used mantra chanting protest as a peaceful method of agitating against anti-Hindu steps taken by the government and the Devaswom Board.
Realizing this, the Travancore Devaswom Board has come out with this strange circular. In the order, the Travancore Devaswom Board has objected to holding protest meetings in the name of Nama Japam and fixing microphones inside the temples and on any object that belongs to the temple.
Earlier, the Board had banned using saffron flags and banners in a temple at Vellayanni in Thiruvananthapuram. With the release of this circular, the intention of the Devaswom Board is clear. The Board intends to take over the temples using the employees of the Devaswom Board. It must be noted that the ultimate authority regarding a temple lies with the advisory committee.
The circular also says that the advisory committee, which has the full authority of the temple administration, must first show the authorities of the Devaswom Board the draft notices on the rituals of the temples. The notices can only be published after getting the permission from the Devaswom Board authorities.
The Devaswom Board Commissioner has also said in the circular that the Board employees can seek the help of the police to execute the orders of the circular.
Meanwhile, the Hindu organizations challenged the Devaswom Board to go ahead with the order.
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