CHENNAI: In Cuddalore district's Chidambaram town, the local police have filed charges against 11 podhu dikshitars. These individuals hold the hereditary role of priests and custodians at the revered Lord Nataraja Temple. The allegations revolve around their alleged interference with the duties of officials from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR&CE) department.
Since June 24, the dikshitars have denied permission for devotees to offer prayers from the sacred stage within the temple. They have erected a notice stating that devotees will not be allowed to engage in prayers from the eighth day of the ongoing Aani Thirumanjanam festival until its conclusion on June 27.
Despite the HR&CE officials' attempt to remove the notice on Saturday, their efforts were met with opposition from the dikshitars. In response, Saranya, the executive officer of HR&CE, lodged a complaint with the Chidambaram town police. Subsequently, Sivarama Dikshitar, the secretary of the podhu dikshitars' committee, along with ten others, have been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including punishment for wrongful restraint, assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging duty, assault and criminal force against women with intent to outrage modesty, and punishment for criminal intimidation. Additionally, they have been charged under section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act.
On Tuesday, district officials initiated peace talks with the dikshitars in an effort to resolve the matter. However, the dikshitars maintained their stance that devotees can only offer prayers from the holy stage starting from Wednesday, as the pooja had already commenced. Nevertheless, the police managed to facilitate the entry of a few devotees into the temple on Tuesday night, enabling them to offer prayers from the sacred stage.
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