Latest news with #HinduPuthiraivannar
New Indian Express
06-07-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
HR&CE permits SC couple to conduct their wedding in Palayamkottai temple
TIRUNELVELI: The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department on Saturday granted permission for a couple belonging to the SC community (Hindu Puthiraivannar) to conduct their wedding at Melavasal Balasubramanya Swami Temple in Palayamkottai, a day after TNIE published a report on their plight on Friday (July 4). On June 24, the couple — J Gopal Sami and G Manju — submitted their application seeking permission to hold the wedding on the temple premises. However, the HR&CE staff at the temple rejected it, citing that their parents have Christian names. Their request was turned down despite the couple and their family possessing Scheduled Caste (SC) Hindu Puthiraivannar community certificates issued by tahsildars. Gopal said, 'It should be noted that if members of the SC community practise Christianity, they can only obtain Backward Class (BC) certificates.' Moreover, he said, 'My late father, Joseph Sami, had been visiting Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple for over 15 years. The wedding engagement followed Hindu customs. Manju's brother, G Manoj, recently got married at the Ilanji Kumarar Temple, managed by the HR&CE. Despite submitting these proofs, the temple staff rejected our application.'
New Indian Express
04-07-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
SC couple denied temple wedding in Tamil Nadu over Christian names of parents
TIRUNELVELI: Three days ahead of their wedding, Gopal Sami and Manju, who belong to SC community (Hindu Puthiraivannar) should be making plans for their future. Instead, they are worrying where to hold the wedding after the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department-managed temple denied permission for the event on the premises as their parents have Christian names. G Manju (20), daughter of Gnanaraj and Anthonyammal, resides at Vallam village near Sengottai in Tenkasi district. Gopal Sami (28) is the son of Joseph Sami and Komu, residents of Palayamkottai in Tirunelveli district. The families decided to conduct the wedding at the Melavasal Balasubramania Swami Temple in Palayamkottai on July 7 and had filed the application on June 24. But the temple denied them permission. Gopal Sami said 'Along with the application, we attached copies of our community certificates.' However, temple accountant Krishnaveni refused permission after seeing Christian names of the parents and said the temple could not allow such a wedding. When contacted by TNIE, Krishnaveni reiterated the reason for denial, adding the families should have changed their names in the gazette. The joint commissioner of HR & CE department in Tirunelveli Kavitha Priyadharshini could not be reached over the phone.
