http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/At-Tamil-Nadu-temple-caste-is-history/articleshow/5649160.cms
At Tamil Nadu temple, caste is history TNN, Mar 6, 2010, 01.55am IST MADURAI: Three years after deep caste divisions stopped them from celebrating a temple festival together, on Friday dalits beat the drums as per tradition and Thevars led the procession to an ancient temple. The rare show of caste amity took place in Pillaiyarpuram village, in caste-sensitive Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu, where the villagers worshipped together at the Vadabathira Kaliamman temple. Tirunelveli SP Asra Garg led a posse of 600 policemen to provide security backup in the village. He said the festival was held after marathon talks were held on Friday to convince the Thevars to allow the dalits to take part in the ritualistic tradition of drumbeating after which they were allowed to offer prayers at the temple. The village dalit leader, S Gurusamy, told TOI: "We will be happy if this continues." The silk clothes offered by the dalits were used to adorn the deity. Though the non-dalits from eight villages enjoyed the rights of conducting ceremonies in this temple during the annual festival during March every year, the dalits also participated in it and were the drumbeaters. There was harmony until 2007 when a minor dispute led to a clash and strains developed between the two groups — a case is pending in this regard in the Madras HC. The revenue department and police held a peace meeting and it was decided that the festival would be held on March 5 and 6. The non-dalits were allowed to enter the temple and perform the ceremonies, while the dalits entered the temple and offered prayers. ------------------------------------ ---- INFORMATION OVERLOAD? Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to [email protected], OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/ PARTICIPATE:- On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to [email protected] TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:- If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to [email protected] OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/ Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
