Citing law and order issues, Kerala Police has directed temple authorities in Thiruvananthapuram’s Vellayani to take down saffron decorations put up for the Bhadrakali temple festival.
Thiruvananthapuram,UPDATED: Feb 14, 2023 09:32 IST
Kerala temple asked to remove saffron decorations, cops cite law and order issue.
By Shibimol KG: Controversy has erupted after Kerala Police directed temple authorities in Thiruvananthapuram’s Vellayani to take down saffron decorations put up for the Bhadrakali temple festival and use multi-colour ones instead.
Temple authorities have claimed it is an attempt by the ruling CPI(M) to destroy Hindu rituals and customs. The 70-day-long Bhadrakali festival begins Tuesday, February 14.
Ahead of the festival, the temple committee had decorated the area using customary saffron fabric, flags and bunting. They had also made a temporary shed using saffron-coloured materials. Local police asked temple committee to use decorations of all colours, citing law and order issues.
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After the temple authorities refused to change the decorations, the Assistant Commissioner of police called a meeting and asked them to use multi-coloured ones. Following this, the Additional District Magistrate also called a meeting of various departments to discuss conducting the temple festival, in which the police again asked for the use of multi-coloured decorations.
Police said that in previous years, there were some law and order problems while organising the temple festival in Vellayani. On the basis of that, they have ordered the use of decorations of all colours to avoid any untoward incidents.
Meanwhile, right-wing outfit Hindu Aikyavedi has approached the court seeking its intervention in the matter.
