CHENNAI: A writ plea has been made in the Madras High Court for a direction to the authorities concerned to grant permission to the Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (TPDK) to conduct the ‘poonool to pig’ (varaham) festival in front of the Sanskrit College in Mylapore on Avani Avittam on August 7.
Justice M S Ramesh, before whom the petitions from two Kazhagam functioneries came up on Friday, posted the matter to Tuesday (August 8) after directing the Public Prosecutor to file the counters.
It also prayed to the court to grant permission to conduct Ravana Leela at the same venue on August 7.
According to the petitioner, a community called Parpanar conducts an event called Avani Avittam on Avittam Natchatram, which falls on August 7.
On that day they wear a thread made up of cotton called poonool in the name of upanayanam. The story behind wearing poonool is that once a poonool is worn by a Parpanar he will get a rebirth and will be equated to God.
Burning the effigies of Rama, Lakshmana and Seetha will form part of the Ravana Leela.
When the petitioners approached the Mylapore police for permission, the latter not only refused the nod but also threatened them with preventive arrests.