TN revokes its ban on mutt palanquin ritual
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government on Sunday revoked its ban on a customary event of a Shaivite math that involves disciples carrying a palanquin on their shoulders with their pontiff seated inside.
The revocation comes a day after heads of four Shaivite maths called on chief minister M K Stalin here and following an outcry against the ban by devotees, the BJP and Hindu outfits.
The customary event, known as ‘Pattina Pravesam’, involves the pontiff being carried on a palanquin in and around the math premises by devotees. While the Dharmapuram Aadheenam pontiff, Srilasri Masilamani Desika Gnanasambandha Paramacharya Swami told reporters in Mayiladuthurai district that Stalin has orally conveyed to spiritual leaders that they could go ahead with the traditional event on May 22 as per schedule, district authorities
almost simultaneously issued an order cancelling the ban.
On April 27, the Mayilduthurai Revenue Divisional Officer had banned the event citing apprehensions over law and order scenario in the wake of opposition by rationalist outfit, the Dravidar Kazhagam and other like minded outfits. The ban order also had claimed that the customary event went against Article 23 of the Constitution that barred forced labour.
Those who had argued against the event had said it went against human dignity. Devotees said the person who is set to be carried on shoulders on a palanquin is their Guru and that the act is voluntary.