Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan. File
| Photo Credit: ARRANGEMENT

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan said in a social media post that it was sad and ironic that the Hindus in Bharat (India) have to seek judicial interventions to practice their faith and perform their rituals, citing the fact that they (Hindus) were forced to adjust their Deepathoon ritual at the famous Thiruparankundram Murugam temple in Tamil Nadu in spite of winning the legal battle in the Madras High Court.

Pointing out that the practice of lighting lamps atop the hills during the Tamil month of Karthigai is an ancient tradition of Hindus, Mr. Kalyan questioned if, even after winning a decisive legal battle, devotees could not perform a simple, peaceful ritual on their own property, where they should look for Constitutional justice.

“Can any religious festival be moved a week late? Can a holy day’s celebration be shifted to a different time? No. Because the sanctity of religious time and the integrity of every religious calendar is non-negotiable,” he commented.

“We secured the right, but lost the ritual. This repeated, systemic denial is why a time has come to demand more than just court victories. We need the Sanatana Dharma Raksha Board that enablesdevotees to actively manage temples and religious affairs on their own,” he stated, while reiterating that mockery of Hindu traditions and rituals has become a norm for certain groups. He sought to know if those mocking Hindu rituals would dare to do the same for other religious events. “Does Article 25 become an optional right instead of a fundamental right to the Hindus?” he questioned. 

Published – December 06, 2025 03:04 pm IST