The Pattina Pravesam ceremony of the Dharmapuram Adheenam was conducted successfully a few days ago, with the event passing off quietly and without wider public attention.
The calm stands in contrast to 2022, when the Mayiladuthurai Revenue Divisional Officer imposed a ban on the ritual citing human rights concerns. The move, attributed to objections raised by the Dravidar Kazhagam and a few organisations, triggered a major controversy against the DMK government at the time.
Following public backlash, the government later withdrew the restriction and allowed the ceremony to proceed. The matter also reached the Madras High Court, where a bench comprising Justices G.R. Swaminathan and Senthilkumar directed that adequate police protection be provided for the event.
The article argues that religious festivals and customary practices should be allowed to take place without political interference, noting that such events typically conclude peacefully with local support. It adds that the government’s role should remain focused on governance, which it says is the public expectation.
