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The Santhanakoodu competition started with flag hoisting at dargah on Sunday, throughout which round 30 locals protested, looking for permission to climb the hill and lightweight a ‘deepam’.
Madras Excessive Court docket (Credit: X)
The Madurai Bench of the Madras Excessive Court docket has allowed the Santhanakoodu (Kanthuri) competition to be held at a dargah positioned on the Thiruparankundram hill in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai district, whereas putting clear restrictions on animal sacrifice and the preparation or carrying of non-vegetarian meals through the occasion.
The order got here on a writ petition that sought to dam the competition scheduled for January 6, citing issues over animal sacrifice. The petitioner argued that earlier Excessive Court docket orders had prohibited such practices on the hilltop and claimed that animal sacrifice was an important a part of the Kanthuri competition. It was additional contended that permitting the competition in its authentic type would harm Hindu non secular sentiments.
The petitioner additionally advised the court docket that the dargah administration, which oversees the complicated housing the grave of Sultan Sikandhar Badushah—a Sufi saint believed to have died preventing for Madurai towards Vijayanagara ruler Kumara Kampana—had neither challenged earlier court docket orders nor approached a civil court docket to determine its proper to conduct the competition within the method claimed.
In search of interim reduction, the petitioner urged the court docket to take care of the present scenario till the case was lastly determined. Nevertheless, Justice Jyothi Raman declined to grant interim reduction and as an alternative issued discover to the dargah administration, directing it to file a counter affidavit. The matter has been adjourned to January 2.
The petition was filed towards the backdrop of latest developments on the web site. The Santhanakoodu competition had already begun with flag hoisting on the dargah on Sunday. Throughout the occasion, round 30 individuals claiming to be native residents staged a protest, demanding permission to climb the hill and lightweight a ‘deepam’ (lamp).
Police officers intervened on the time and clarified that permission had been granted just for preparations related to the Santhanakoodu competition on the dargah. Following the incident, the BJP accused the ruling DMK authorities of suppressing Hindu non secular rights. The DMK, in flip, alleged that the BJP was trying to impress communal stress.
Regardless of the protests and political exchanges, the flag hoisting ceremony was performed peacefully. Notably, the occasion additionally noticed participation from Hindu devotees, together with conventional Hindu Nadaswaram performances on the shrine, highlighting a relaxed ambiance on the web site amid the controversy.
The case continues to be carefully watched, given its non secular, cultural and political sensitivities.
January 02, 2026, 23:35 IST
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