Bengaluru: Serious allegations have been made that the temple management and security personnel are abusing devotees from Karnataka during the Vaishakh festival at the famous Kottiyur Shiva temple in Kerala. Videos of women devotees, especially women, being pushed aside and water poured on them with their feet, are going viral on social media, causing intense anger among Kannadigas.
Since this place went viral last year through social media reels, this time a large number of Kannadigas are visiting here from different parts of Karnataka by bus and cars. But eyewitnesses have lamented that Kannadigas are not getting even the slightest respect there.
Violence against women and VIP ticket scam
There is a situation where one has to wait for 8 to 10 hours to have darshan of Lord Shiva, and a big scam is going on here in the name of VIP ticket worth Rs 1,000. Even after paying money, they are not getting proper darshan. Devotees from Karnataka have cried out that girls are not allowed to go forward even after standing in line for hours, but are being pushed around by holding their hands. Meanwhile, scenes of temple staff pouring water on women with their feet have gone viral on social media, leading to widespread opposition.
Devotees appeal not to let Kannadigas come to Kottiyur
Devotees have expressed their anger saying that the staff there is abusing Kannadigas who do not speak Malayalam with abusive words. When devotees from Kerala come to our Dharmasthala, Udupi, we treat them with respect. But violence is going on here against Kannadigas. Therefore, the devotees who have gone there are making a video and appealing to Kannadigas not to come to Kottiyur.
There have been complaints that devotees are stranded at the gate without a proper route for darshan, and only those they want are being allowed in. Kannadigas have demanded strict action against this inhumane behavior in the presence of God.