Row over kazhakam post in Koodalmanikyam temple surfaces again

Thrissur: The row over the appointment of an Ezhava community candidate for kazhakam duty at Irinjalakuda Koodalmanikyam Temple has surfaced again, with the devaswom management committee (DMC) and tanthris (chief priests) openly criticising each other.DMC alleged that a section of tanthris were not cooperating with the temple affairs after the appointment of Cherthala resident K S Anurag, who belongs to Ezhava community, for kazhakam duties, last year. Tanthris denied this and said they were objecting only when the temple rituals were altered without consulting them.The dispute had started with the appointment of B A Balu from Aryanad, Thiruvananthapuram — also belonging to the Ezhava community — for the duty by Kerala Devaswom Recruitment Board (KDRB) early last year.A section of the tanthris argued that the kazhakam functions were part of the temple's ritualistic aspects and the selection of people to that post should be left to the discretion of tanthris, who are considered as ultimate authorities on ritualistic affairs. Members of organisations like Warrier Samajam endorsed the view and said kazhakam candidates must be from ambalavasi communities. However, LDF-ruled KDRB and DMC asserted that the selection should be abided by devaswom recruitment rules.Balu had quit the job following the dispute and Anurag was posted as his successor.A case is pending before Supreme Court in this regard. DMC members have issued a media release saying they have the right to designate qualified tanthris if the existing ones are not cooperating.Addressing a news conference at Irinjalakkuda on Thursday, tanthri community representatives said they had cooperated at the required levels for all the events including the temple festival of 2025 and Prathishtadinam of 2025 and 2026 as well as the Navarathri festival of 2026.