Tamil Nadu: The traditional palanquin program is known as ‘Pattina Pravesham’. (file)
Chennai:
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has welcomed the Tamil Nadu government’s lifting of the ban on the customary “Pattina Pravesam” program at a Shaivite monastery in Mayiladuthurai district, calling it a “victory” for Hindu unity.
The organization appealed to all Hindus to participate in the program to be held at Dharmapuram Athinam on 22 May.
“This victory is due to the unity of all Hindu and Hindu organizations working together to lift the ban,” VHP Dakshin Bharat (South India) organizing secretary, PM Nagarajan said in a press release.
The customary event known as ‘Pattina Pravesam’ is carried by the devotees on a palanquin to and around the monastery premises.
On 27 April, the Mayiladuthurai Revenue Divisional Officer had banned the event citing apprehensions over the law and order situation in the wake of protests by the rationalist organisation, Dravida Kazhagam and other like-minded organisations. The ban order also claimed that the event was against Article 23 of the Constitution which prohibited forced labour.
The government’s move resulted in outrage in various sectors, including a Vaishnava saint, even as the state BJP unit claimed the motive behind the ban order and called for its withdrawal.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)