Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Adivasis seek right to do rituals at temple

Thiruvananthapuram: The Akhila Thiruvithamcore Mala Araya Maha Sabha has urged the government to restore the right of the tribal community to conduct rituals connected with the Sabarimala temple.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, Sabha president K.K. Gangadharan and its district unit president K.S. Radhakrishnan said officials of the Forest Department and The Devaswom Board had forced the tribals inhabiting the hills near the Sabarimala temple to relocate themselves to peripheral areas and stop certain religious rituals observed by their forefathers.

They said the Mala Araya community had the exclusive right to light the lamp and conduct puja at Ponnambalamedu on the Makaravilakku day for decades.

“We were also authorised to clear a path through the forest up to Sabarimala during the pilgrimage season. With TDB taking over the administration of the temple, we were divested of these rights.”

Mr. Gangadharan said the government had acknowledged the rights of the Mala Araya tribals in the affidavit filed before the High Court in a case relating to the lighting of lamps at Ponnambalamedu.

He called on the government to ensure a role for the community in the administration of the Sabarimala temple and appoint a person from the tribe to the TDB as member.

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