Kerala temple barred ‘Non-Hindu’ Bharatanatyam dancer from performing? Here’s what we know
Earlier, she had faced backlash from clerics and other people from Muslim community for performing Bharatanatyam despite being a Muslim
New Delhi: Bharatanatyam dancer Mansiya VP was allegedly denied permission to perform at the Koodalmanikyam Temple at Irinjalakuda in Kerala’s Thrissur district.
Mansiya has alleged that her scheduled dance performance in the temple, which comes under Devaswom Board controlled by the state government, was not allowed to carry out, for her being a non-Hindu.
The 27-year-old classical dancer is a Ph.D. research scholar in Bharatanatyam. Earlier, she had faced backlash from clerics and other people from Muslim community for performing Bharatanatyam despite being a Muslim.
In her recent Meta post, Mansiya wrote, “One of the temple office-bearers informed me that I cannot perform at the temple as I am a non-Hindu. All stages are allotted based on religion, not considering whether you are a good dancer or not. In the meantime, I have also been facing queries about whether I got converted into a Hindu after marriage. (She had married musician Shyam Kalyan). I have no religion and where should I go”.
She also alleged that this isn’t her first such experience where she was not allowed to perform because of her religion. She said that previously also she was prohibited to dance inside the premises of Guruvayoor Sree Krishna temple at Guruvayoor for not being a Hindu.
“Art and artists continue to be knotted with religion and caste. When it is forbidden to one religion, it becomes the monopoly of another religion. This experience is not new to me. I am recording it here (on Facebook) only to remind you that nothing has changed in our secular Kerala,’’ she further wrote in her post.
Meanwhile, Devaswom Board’s chairman Pradeep Menon issued a statement on the matter. He said that the permission was denied as per the existing tradition of the temple, wherein only Hindus can perform inside the temple premises.
“This temple complex is spread over 12 acres of land. The slated 10-day festival would take place in the temple compound. Around 800 artists would be performing in various events during the festival. As per our norms, we have to ask the artists whether they are Hindus or non- Hindus. Mansiya had given in writing that she has no religion. Hence, she was denied the venue. We have gone as per the existing tradition at the temple,’’ he said.