‘Non-Hindu’ Bharatanatyam dancer stopped from performing in Kerala temple

Manasiya VP, Non-Hindu
Mansiya V P, a Bharatanatyam dancer, claimed that the Koodalmanikyam Temple in Irinjalakuda, Kerala's Thrissur district, has refused her entry to a scheduled dance performance on its premises because she is a non-Hindu.
Manasiya VP, Non-Hindu
Mansiya V P, a Bharatanatyam dancer, claimed that the Koodalmanikyam Temple in Irinjalakuda, Kerala’s Thrissur district, has refused her entry to a scheduled dance performance on its premises because she is a non-Hindu.

Mansiya V P, a Bharatanatyam dancer, claims that the Koodalmanikyam Temple in Irinjalakuda, Kerala’s Thrissur district, is run by the state government’s Devaswom Board, which denied her access to a scheduled dance performance because she is not a Hindu.

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.

Mansiya announced on Facebook that her dancing performance would take place on April 21 on the temple grounds. “As a non-Hindu, one of the temple office-bearers advised me that I would be unable to perform at the temple.”

All stages are assigned solely on the basis of religion, regardless of whether or not you are a competent dancer. Meanwhile, I’ve been getting questions about whether I converted to Hinduism following my marriage. (Shyam Kalyan, a musician, was her husband.) ‘I don’t have a religion, and I’m not sure where I should go,’ she explained.

She stated that this is not her first time being excluded from a programme because of her faith, as she was supposedly barred from performing at the Guruvayoor Sree Krishna temple in Guruvayoor for being a non-Hindu a few years ago.

“Religion and caste continue to entangle art and artists. When one religion forbids it, it becomes a monopoly for another faith. This isn’t the first time I’ve had a similar situation.

‘I’m recording it here (on Facebook) just to tell everyone that nothing has changed in our secular Kerala,” she explained.

When approached, Koodalmanikyam Devaswom (temple) Board chairman Pradeep Menon remarked that only Hindus are allowed to perform within the temple compound according to the temple’s longstanding tradition. “This temple complex covers an area of 12 acres. The 10-day celebration is set to take place on the temple grounds. During the festival, almost 800 performers will perform in a variety of activities.

As per our procedures, we must inquire as to whether the artists are Hindus or non-Hindus. Mansiya had stated in writing that she is agnostic. As a result, she was turned down for the event. We went to the temple in accordance with the temple’s established tradition.”

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