Devotees protest district administration’s order to remove pandals at Rajaganapathi Temple in Salem
Devotees and Hindu organizations in Salem are protesting the district administration's order to remove pandals erected for a temple consecration ceremony. Officials cite safety concerns regarding the capacity of the structures to hold the expected crowd of 30,000 people.
Why it matters
The conflict highlights the tension between religious event planning and public safety regulations in high-density urban areas.
The devotees and Hindu outfits on Friday voiced their displeasure with the Salem district administration’s alleged instruction to remove the pandals erected for the consecration ceremony at the Arulmigu Rajaganapathi Temple in Salem.
Devotees in large numbers are expected to attend the consecration ceremony of the temple located on First Agraharam Road here on Sunday (August 30). Cloth pandals were erected near the temple two weeks ago. The devotees and Hindu outfits alleged that the officials are now insisting on removing the pandals.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in