THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Travancore Devaswom Board president Prayar Gopalakrishnan’s announcement to build a temple at Ponnambalamedu has sparked anger among the Mala Arayas who allege is a ploy to deny the tribals’ right to light the makaravilakku.Cases regarding the right to light the makaravilakku are pending with the High Court and the State Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.Prayar had recently wrote to the Central Government demanding forest land to build a temple at Ponnambalamedu.
When this became a controversy, the president issued an explanation saying there would not be daily worship or poojas at ponnamabalamedu except on the makaravilakku day.
But Mala Araya Samyukta Samithi believes it to be his hidden agenda to prevent the reinstatement of their right to light the makaravilakku. Samithi’s office-bearer N Sreenivasan said the president’s ulterior move was to assign the duty of lighting the vilakku to a TDB priest. “This is unacceptable as we have placed a request to reinstate our right to light the vilakku,” he said.
He also said the president should not have made this statement while the case is being heard by the High Court and the SC, ST Commission. The Samithi is planning to bring the issue to the notice of the court and the commission.
Earlier, Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran had informed the Assembly that the rights of Mala Arayas will be protected. The thantri family, erstwhile royal families of Travancore and Pandalam had also voiced their support to the tribals’ demand.
Prayar had stated the duty of lighting the jyothi has been entrusted with the chief priest of Pampa Ganapathi temple. Entry will not be allowed for the public or Devaswom officials, including board president,” Prayar said.