Kerala High Court bans political songs at temple festivals

The Kerala High Court has ruled that political songs should not be allowed at temple festivals and religious events. The decision came after a complaint about a music program at the Kadakkal Devi temple in Kollam, which featured political songs and party flags. A petitioner, Vishnu Sunil Panthalam, argued that using temple premises for political activities undermines their religious purpose. He said that a performance by singer Aloshy on March 10 caused distress among devotees and violated the festival's sanctity. The court criticized the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and the temple's advisory committee for failing to prevent such events. It reviewed video footage of the program and stated that political performances do not belong in temple settings. The TDB responded by saying it had already begun an investigation and issued a notice to the temple advisory committee. The court has ordered the TDB to submit a detailed report about the incident and ensure that similar activities do not happen in the future. Additionally, the court banned any fundraising from the public for temple events without prior approval. All collections must be done through official channels and properly accounted for, as per state regulations.