The Madurai district collector and police commissioner informed the court that a meeting held on 30 January also decided not to allow outsiders to interfere with the ritual.
Published Mar 24, 2025 | 3:10 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 24, 2025 | 3:10 PM
Thiruparankundram temple and the dargah.(Creative Commons)
Synopsis: The animal sacrifice at the dargah, a tradition that has been followed for decades, became a bone of contention after a few Hindu organisations protested against it. The Arulmigu Subramaniyaswamy Temple is also located on the hill, a prominent pilgrimage centre for both Muslims and Hindus.
The animal sacrifice at the Sultan Sikkandar Avulia Dargah atop the Tiruparankundram Hill would continue, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court was told on Monday, 24 March.
In an affidavit submitted to the court, the Madurai district collector and police commissioner informed that a meeting held on 30 January also decided not to allow outsiders to interfere with the practice.
The affidavit was filed in response to a petition filed by one Kannan Muthukumar and others, who sought a court order to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to take over the hill.
In the affidavit, the district administration said representatives of two communities that have their places of worship atop the hill, attended the 30 January meeting.
The animal sacrifice at the dargah, a tradition that has been followed for decades, became a bone of contention after a few Hindu organisations protested against it. The Arulmigu Subramaniyaswamy Temple is also located on the hill, a prominent pilgrimage centre for both Muslims and Hindus.
The ASI sought more time to file a counter affidavit. The court rejected the ASI’s claim that the hill belonged to it, stating that the hill belonged to everyone.
“God is correct, but some humans are not,” Justices Nisha Banu and S Srimathy observed while deferring the case to 7 April. The court directed the ASI to submit an affidavit and relevant documents.
The opposition to animal sacrifice at the dargah created tension in the area in February when the police prevented the ritual, citing such acts were prohibited on the hill.
The police action led to protests by Islamic organisations, who asserted their traditional rights to conduct these rituals. In response, Hindu organisations, including the Hindu Munnani, announced protests opposing animal sacrifices, emphasising the hill’s sanctity in Hindu tradition.
To maintain law and order, the Madurai district administration promulgated prohibitory orders and beefed up security.
On 27 January 2025, 11 representatives from Thiruparankundram petitioned the Madurai District Collector, stating that all faiths coexisted peacefully in their village and urging that outsiders should not interfere in religious practices.
A second peace meeting on 30 January 2025, involving representatives from major political parties, reaffirmed that existing worship practices should be maintained, including private Kandhuri offerings, while barring external interference. The AIADMK representative, however, declined to sign the resolution.
Amid rising tensions, on 4 February 2025, Hindu Munnani sought permission for a protest under the banner “Protect the Hill, Preserve the Sanctity of Thirupparankundram.” The police denied permission, prompting Hindu organisations to take to social media, calling for community mobilisation to “protect the hill”.
These developments have intensified debates over religious practices at Thirupparankundram, particularly the coexistence of Murugan worship at the temple and Kandhuri rituals at the Dargah.
According to retired professor and author Arunan (Ramalingam Kathiresan), and Professor A Ramasamy, a Tamil scholar, writer, Researcher, and former professor at the Department of Tamil at Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, the current controversy is a clear case of disrupting social harmony.
They emphasised that history should not be used to create divisions but rather to foster coexistence and mutual respect.
Whilst discussing the political scenario with Arunan, he referred to an all-party letter addressed to the Madurai Collector on 27 January, which clearly stated that the custom of animal sacrifice at the dargah on the hill has been practised for decades. Many locals still serve as living witnesses to this tradition.
Both Arunan and Ramasamy suggested that there has never been an issue with religious harmony or the coexistence of both places of worship from the Sangam period to the present day. They argue that only now, certain Hindu organisations are turning it into a controversy, disturbing communal peace.
Pointing to what happened in Ayodhya, Ramasamy urged the government to act wisely and take necessary steps to preserve communal harmony.
