International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research

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Volume 8 Issue 4
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Melpathi: Caste Hindus Who Refuse to Allow Dalits into Temples; Dalits Who Say that Religious Conversion is the Solution

Author(s) Bharath G
Country India
Abstract The Draupadi Amman temple is located in the village of Melpathi in the Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu. The affected Dalit people allege that they are not allowed to enter and worship in this temple. A major case of caste-based discrimination and denial of religious rights to Dalits (Adi Dravidians) has been ongoing from 2023 to 2025. During the annual temple festival, Dalit people tried to enter the Sri Dharmaraja Draupadi Amman temple, managed by the Hindu Religious and Endowments Department (HR&CE). They were reportedly prevented from entering by members of the dominant Vanniyar community, and several Dalit youths were allegedly attacked. During the festival held in 2023, a Dalit youth named Kathiravan entered the temple and was severely attacked by members of the Vanniyar caste. The issue then came to the fore. The incident triggered widespread protests, intervention by political parties and civil society organizations, and police action. After the peace talks failed, the affected Dalits announced that they would convert to Islam. The district administration sealed the temple in June 2023 to prevent violence. As a result of the continued knocking on the court door by the affected people, the Madras High Court gave a verdict on February 20, 2025, allowing the Dalits to enter the temple. Following this, on April 15, 2025, the district administration and the police took the affected Dalits to the temple under heavy security and made them worship. Although the issue has been resolved legally, in social reality this issue is still simmering between the two communities.
Keywords Caste discrimination- Festival and Attack, Denial of Entry to Temple, High Court Intervention, The decision to religion convert, Legal rights of Dalits, Ongoing discrimination.
Field கலைகள்
Published In Volume 8, Issue 4, July-August 2026
Published On 2026-07-26
DOI https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i04.84475
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