Tension in Thiruparankundram As Residents Protest During Santhanakoodu Festival Flag Hoisting In Madurai

Madurai's Thiruparankundram witnessed tense scenes on Sunday as residents of Kottai Street staged protests against the police, demanding permission to light the traditional Karthigai Deepam atop the hill. The unrest coincided with the flag-hoisting ceremony of the Santhanakoodu festival at the Sikandar dargah, which was conducted under heavy police deployment.

The day began with friction near the hill entrance, where around 20 individuals blocked the path leading to the dargah. Their demand was simple: permission to climb the hill and light the deepam, a ritual they claimed was part of local tradition. Police officials, however, clarified that only a select few had been granted access to make arrangements for the Santhanakoodu festival. As the protest continued, the group was detained and taken to a private hall before being released later in the evening.

The situation escalated further when BJP leader H Raja attempted to reach the hill. He was stopped by police at Thirunagar and taken to a marriage hall, where he too was released in the evening. Speaking to reporters, Raja framed the issue as one of protecting Hindu rights rather than a clash between communities. He objected to the placement of dargah flags near the kallathi tree, which he insisted was part of the temple premises.

Political reactions quickly followed. VCK President Thol. Thirumavalavan condemned the developments, accusing certain groups of attempting to spread religious fanaticism using Thiruparankundram as a focal point. He asserted that the secular alliance led by the DMK, along with the people of Tamil Nadu, would not allow such divisive efforts to succeed. Thirumavalavan also dismissed allegations that the DMK alliance favored minorities, calling them slanderous and emphasizing that the coalition enjoyed broad support across communities, including Hindus.

On the other side, Arif Khan, Secretary of the Sikandar Mosque, expressed satisfaction with the flag-hoisting ceremony. He noted that the event was celebrated in a grand manner with full cooperation from the Tamil Nadu government, police, media, and local residents. According to him, the festival was conducted in the same traditional manner as it has been for years.

Despite these assurances, local residents voiced discontent over the handling of the flagpole during the ceremony. One resident remarked that the flagpole was rushed up the hill even before the street procession reached the temple area, calling the move provocative. The same police force that denied permission for the Karthigai Deepam, he argued, was facilitating the flag-hoisting, which he felt amounted to incitement.

Police eventually intervened to restore order, escorting participants safely down the hill. While the Santhanakoodu festival commenced as planned, the protests highlighted simmering tensions in Thiruparankundram, where questions of tradition, religious rights, and political narratives continue to intersect.