Pathanamthitta: Members of the SNDP Yogam staged a protest against alleged caste discrimination by entering the Koyikkal Sri Dharmasastha Temple in Ranni-Perunadu wearing shirts, defying traditional dress codes. The temple, managed by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), witnessed the participation of SNDP members from Perunadu, Naranamoozhi, and nearby villages.
The protest was organized in response to reported caste-based restrictions within the temple. Protesters claimed that lower-caste devotees were being subtly discriminated against in temple customs and rituals.
SNDP Yogam members asserted that their protest was not meant to disrespect temple traditions but to highlight the need for social equality in places of worship. They demanded an end to discriminatory practices and called for inclusivity in temple administration.
Temple authorities and Devaswom Board officials have yet to officially respond to the incident. Meanwhile, the protest has sparked debates on caste-based traditions and reform movements in Kerala’s temple administration.
