KOLLAM: The display of RSS founder K B Hedgewar’s portraits during the Kollam Pooram held in connection with the Sree Krishnaswamy Temple festival at the Ashramam grounds has sparked a controversy, prompting the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to seek a report from the assistant devaswom commissioner, Kollam.
Hedgewar’s images were shown alongside those of social reformers like Sree Narayana Guru and B R Ambedkar during the traditional Kudamattam event organised by the Puthiyakavu temple.
This is the third such incident of pictures or songs with political undertones being displayed or performed during a temple festival in the state the past two months.
On March 10, the rendering of revolutionary songs during the festival at Kadakkal Devi temple had triggered a row, with the Kerala High Court also expressing strong disapproval. Earlier this month, the alleged singing of the RSS ‘ganageetham’ during a festival concert at the Manjippuzha Sree Bhagavathy Bhadrakali temple in Kottukkal had also sparked a controversy.
In the latest case, the Kollam East police have registered a case under the Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act, 1950.
The Youth Congress had earlier lodged a complaint with the TDB and the city police commissioner, questioning whether due consent had been obtained for the display.
The Kollam Pooram took place on government-owned land sanctioned by the district collector.
Temple panel distances itself from controversy
“As the issue regarding the display of the RSS leader’s pictures during Kollam Pooram came to light, the TDB has sought a report from the assistant devaswom commissioner. Other temples had also participated in the festival in the past. We will examine the matter and take further steps after receiving the report,” said a source at the TDB headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram.
The advisory committee of the temple denied prior knowledge of the Puthiyakavu temple’s plans to display Hedgewar’s portrait.
“The advisory committee of the temple has no idea whose portrait will be displayed during the festival. We come to know only when the images are revealed during the event. Kollam Pooram has been held for over 30 years, and this is the first time such a controversy has emerged. The committee will soon meet with the managements of both temples to discuss the issue and take necessary action,” said Suresh S, president of the Sree Krishnaswamy Temple advisory committee.
Following the incident, the Youth Congress took out a protest march to the city police commissioner’s office.
“CPM is in cahoots with BJP in politicising temples. They promptly filed a case against a singer in the Kadakkal temple issue. Despite our complaint about the political colouring of Kollam Pooram, the police only registered a case after our protest. This shows the CPM-BJP trend. The police are protecting CPM members accused in the Kadakkal case while also shielding RSS members. We urge the Devaswom Board to take strict action to prevent the politicisation of temples and hold officials accountable,” said Vishnu Sunil Pandalam.
Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan echoed similar concerns.
“Both CPM and BJP are deliberately politicising places of worship. They should refrain from such actions. The UDF’s stance is clear -- temples should not be politicised,” he said.