Tension at Kerala Temple Festival as Communists Clash with Organizers

Here is another instance of Communist interference in temple affairs in Kerala. The incident occurred during the temple festival at Vallamkulam Nannur temple in Thiruvalla.

Kerala temple festivals typically last for a few days, during which cultural programs are usually held in the evenings on the temple premises. According to news reports on Manoramaonline and information circulating on social media, this is what happened. On April 9th, a local music band performed a ‘Ganamela’ (music show). Towards the end of the show, the band sang a ‘Ganageetham’. A ‘Ganageetham’ is usually a devotional song expressing devotion towards the nation and the divine, while equating the nation to the divine. These songs are usually sang in RSS Shakhas. As reported by Manoramaonline, the song began with the lyrics ‘Namaskarippoo Bharathamange’. This is a patriotic song instilling a sense of devotion for your mother land. No patriot would have a problem with the song. But then a group of CPM workers appeared and demanded that the band sing “Balikudeerangale,” which is a revolutionary song typically sung by communists, although strictly speaking, this song has nothing to do with Communism.

The festival organizers immediately decided to end the show and pulled down the curtain. The CPM workers were annoyed with this and tore the curtain while abusing the festival organizers. It is alleged that the police were watching the entire sequence of events.

To put things into perspective, let’s assume that this is a festival at a local mosque, and a song connected to the Indian Muslim League was sung. Do you think the Communists would force the band to sing ‘Balikudeerangale’? We all know the answer.

Another example of Kerala Model, I guess!