The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department will hold a series of peace meetings with Caste Hindus and Dalits in Thenmudiyanur village in Thandrampattu block of Tiruvannamalai district in the coming week to conduct the annual post-Pongal festival that involves various communities of the village.
Speaking to The Hindu, M. Jothi Lakshmi, Joint Commissioner, HR&CE (Tiruvannamalai), said that petitions have been submitted by members of both communities on the festival to the department last week. Dalits want to have the festival in the temple, whereas Caste Hindus have decided to stay away from the festival.
As per tradition followed by residents in the village, the festival commences on the third day after Pongal and will be held for 13 days, providing each community in the village to conduct rituals and poojas as per their tradition at the Muthalamman Temple, which is maintained by the HR&CE.
