Kerala - Thrissur   

Non-Hindus' entry into temple opposed

Staff Reporter

THRISSUR: The Guruvayur Kshetra Paramparya Paricharaka Samithy has said that non-Hindus should not be allowed to enter the Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple.

Addressing a press conference at Guruvayur on Thursday, Samithy general secretary Kizhiyedam Raman Namboodiri said that rites, customs and practices in the temple should not be changed one bit.

``The rites are complex and serious. Their intensity contributes to the sanctity of the temple and welfare of devotees. Any change of rite, hence, is unwelcome,'' he said.

Asked to comment on the reported remark by Devaswom Minister G. Sudhakaran that legislation should be enacted to change certain rites, Mr. Raman Namboodiri said that priests (tantris) would then be forced to accept the legislation unwillingly.

``In a democracy, the State has the duty to protect the interests of a community or religious group. Imposing a law on a community, especially in matters related to faith, is unfair,'' Mr. Namboodiri maintained.

He said members of the Samithy did not approve of the reported stand of a section of people at a meeting of the Yoga Kshema Sabha in Thrissur recently that non-Hindus should be allowed into the Guruvayur Sreekrishna Temple.

``The majority of participants did not approve of the idea of throwing the temple open to people from all religions,'' Mr. Raman Namboodiri said. Chennas Satheesan Namboodiripad, Chelampatta Narayanan Namboodiri, Pottakuzhi Bhavadasan Namboodiri, M. N. Nambeesan and Cheruthayur Ajith Namboodiri were also present at the press meet.

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