http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/India/Dalits_break_300-year-old_taboo_enter_temple/articleshow/815068.cms
Dalits break 300-year-old taboo, enter temple Arabinda Mishra [ 15 Dec, 2006 0101hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ] BHUBANESWAR: Breaking a nearly 300-year-old ban, hundreds of Dalits on Thursday entered a Jagannath temple in Orissa's Kendrapada district. Prior to this, Dalits could have darshan only through the nine small holes on the walls of the temple located at Keredagada village. Around 12.15 pm, the Dalits, who have been fighting for the right to enter the shrine since last year, started trooping into the temple built by the rulers of Kanika. They did not face any resistance from upper caste people who were dead against allowing them to enter the shrine. "I cannot believe it. By the grace of God, we are now inside the temple," said Baidyanath Jena (65), the first Dalit to set foot inside the temple. His voice choked with excitement as he talked about his feelings. Kendrapara district collector Kashinath Sahoo described the event as "historic." As gun-totting policemen stood guard outside the temple, the Dalits, offered "bhog" and donations to the deities. "There was no resistance either from the priests or other upper caste people," said Sangram Mallick, a leader of the Ambedkar Lohia Vichar Manch that led the campaign against the ban. Towards the evening, the priests reportedly sta-rted displaying their displeasure.
