Kerala: ‘Non-Hindu’ artist barred from performing in temple; Shashi Tharoor reacts

New Delhi, March 29: After a popular Bharatanatyam artist alleged that she was barred from performing inside the Koodalmanikyam Temple over her religion, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday reacted to the incident and termed it "shocking." According to reports, the Koodalmanikyam Temple at Irinjalakuda in Kerala’s Thrissur district, which is under the state government-controlled Devaswom Board, barred the dancer Mansiya V P from a scheduled dance programme on its premises because she is not a Hindu. The administration took punitive action, stating that "non-Hindus" are not allowed to perform inside the Koodalmanikyam temple grounds. Shashi Tharoor while reacting to the incident stated, "I understand some restrictions in some temples about access to sanctum santorum. But this is a dance performance with other dancers inside the temple premises. Shocked that the temple is not allowing this." "I believe that it serves our society ill and also damages the perception of our religion in the eyes of others," he added. Also Read | Delhi Police oppose Sushil Kumar's bail, say witnesses 'terrified' Mansiya, a PhD researcher in Bharatanatyam, had previously faced criticism and boycott from Islamic clergy for being a classical dance performer despite being born and raised as a Muslim. She had posted on Facebook that her dancing performance would take place on April 21 on the temple grounds. “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,’’ the post by the dancer read. She also stated that this is not her first time being barred from a programme because of her religion, as she was allegedly barred from performing at the Guruvayoor Sree Krishna temple in Guruvayoor for being a non-Hindu a few years ago. Also Read | WhatsApp testing 2GB file transfer limit -PTC News