Tamil Nadu Congress chief stopped from taking part in Kancheepuram temple ritual

Tamil Nadu Congress state president and Sriperumbudur MLA K Selvaperunthagai was allegedly prevented by temple authorities from participating in the ‘kumbhabhishekam’ rituals at the Vallakottai Murugan temple in Kancheepuram.

The ‘kumbhabhishekam’, a consecration ritual conducted after 17 years, marked the end of four years of temple renovation. He alleged that while he was stopped, BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan was allowed to perform the holy water offering.

While Soundararajan was taken to the main tower to perform the ‘kudamuzhuku’ — the pouring of holy water on the kalasam — Selvaperunthagai was stopped initially. After his supporters raised objections, he was later permitted to approach the tower, but was reportedly halted again by Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) officials before participating in the actual ritual. He was also not handed the temple flag, a symbolic honour.

“The ‘kudamuzhuku’ festival went well and my congratulations. Lakhs visited Thiruchendur temple, and I went there under the supervision of the minister. But officials’ apathy was visible. We don’t know who is controlling whom,” said Selvaperunthagai later, expressing disappointment at the treatment.

He added that although the situation was handled peacefully, the incident highlighted deeper systemic issues: “This is a 2000-year-old issue and it can’t be settled overnight. Officials did it and we stood with people and watched. I don’t want to say anything that affects the Chief Minister or the minister’s (PK Sekarbabu) good name.”

Selvaperunthagai, who belongs to a Scheduled Caste community, said he was not allowed to see the deity and had to leave for another engagement.

“Officials should behave like officials. That is the problem. I don’t know why they stopped me and didn’t allow me,” he remarked.

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