The age-old temple ritual, Kaal Kazhukichoottu, which involves washing the feet of Brahmins and feeding them as a way of penance, has run into controversy in Kerala. The ritual has been in vogue in some Hindu temples for centuries. Mostly, temple priests wash the feet of Brahmins, who are later offered food and dakshina (donation). Devotees go for the offering to display penitence, as prescribed by astrologers. Winning the goodwill and blessings of Brahmins by honouring them and providing them food and money seems to be the core idea of the regressive ritual, which reinforces caste hierarchy. The continuance of the ritual to date has evoked sharp response in the State, which has made earnest efforts to do away with caste discrimination.
Renaming the ritual
In the face of public backlash and Kerala Devaswom Minister K. Radhakrishnan’s response, the Cochin Devaswom Board, which manages a few temples in central Kerala, was forced to call off or modify the ritual in three temples. In an apparent effort to mitigate social criticism, the Board renamed the ritual as Samaradhana at Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple, Thripunithura. The Board, in consultation with the Thanthri Samajam, a forum of temple priests, clarified that the ritual “shall not be restricted to any particular community but will be open for all those who offer poojas at the temple”. Yet, the ritual will remain an all-Brahmin affair in the temple as only Brahmins carry out rituals in their capacity as the temple’s chief priests and so, it is only the feet of Brahmins which will be washed.
