Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

NAGAPATTINAM, TAMIL NADU, INDIA, October 28, 2009: For the first time in a hundred years, dalits of Chettipulam village stepped inside the local Shiva temple on Tuesday, in a historic moment brought about by government and political intervention.

Escorted by revenue and police officers, nearly 70 dalits of the village situated near Vedaranyam in Nagapattinam district entered the century-old Kamatchi Amman Sametha Ekambareswarar Temple at around 11 am and offered prayers for 25 minutes.

“It is a historic day for us. For decades, we were barred from entering the temple. All we could do for generations was to stand 10 feet away from the temple entrance and offer prayers,” said Nandan alias N. Natarajan, a dalit laborer. He and other dalits were greeted by non-dalits inside the temple.

Posted in Hindu Press International

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