Pathanamthitta (Kerala): A group of devotees staged a peaceful demonstration at a Lord Ayyappa temple on Sunday, opposing the custom that requires men to remove their shirts before entering the shrine.
Visuals captured members of the SNDP Samyuktha Samara Samithi standing in a queue outside the Perunadu temple, overseen by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), offering prayers while keeping their shirts on. Notably, the temple authorities and police did not intervene, allowing the silent protest to proceed without disruption.
Demand for Change
After completing their prayers, the protesters called for a permanent end to the traditional practice, arguing that it was outdated and unnecessary. Officials clarified that while devotees historically followed the rule, there was no formal objection to those choosing otherwise.
Calls for Reform
This demonstration comes months after Swami Satchidananda, head of the Sivagiri Mutt, voiced opposition to the practice. The monk, associated with the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam, an influential Ezhava community organization, termed the shirt removal tradition a social injustice. He suggested that its original purpose was to identify Brahmins wearing sacred threads, making it irrelevant in modern times.
The protest has reignited debate on temple customs, with reformists pushing for inclusivity over rigid traditions.
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