Fear-stricken villagers move HC for restoration of pooja

Residents of a village have moved the Madras High Court seeking restoration of 'ancestral' method of conducting poojas at a local Kaali temple under government control as they fear attracting the wrath of the deity for deviating from the age-old practice.
Petitioner N K Andavar, representing residents of Pariyur in Erode District, sought a direction to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) Department to conduct poojas and festivals in the Kondalathu Kaali Amman temple in the manner their ancestors did before it was taken over by the government body.
Passing orders on the petition yesterday, Justice M Sathyanarayanan directed HR & CE department to consider the representation by villagers in this regard within six weeks.

The petitioner had submitted that before the ancient temple was taken up by the HR&CE some years ago, regular poojas and special poojas were conducted as per the method followed by their ancestors.
After the takeover by HR&CE, the poojas were not performed and devotees were not informed about festivals in the temple.
He further submitted that the villagers were scared that the Goddess will "punish" them for not performing poojas as per ancestral methods.