Dalits all set to enter Orissa temple

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Kendrapada (Orissa): Overruling caste-bound tradition and years of discrimination, hundreds of Dalits will enter a Jagannath temple in Kendrapada on December 20 after the high court last week gave a ruling in their favour.

The upper caste community had barred Dalits from entering the 18th century shrine dedicated to Lord Jagannath in Keradagarh village, 45 km from Kendrapada. But a division bench last week ruled that all Hindus had the right to enter any temple, irrespective of their caste.

"The court direction is in our favour," Sangram Mallick, Dalit leader and president of the Ambedkar Lohai Vichar Mancha (ALVM), told IANS.

Though the Dalits had not asked for permission to organise a meeting at Keredagada on December 20, the administration would cooperate with them in entering the temple at any time and take legal action against anybody opposing the move, said district collector Kashinath Sahoo.

Arrest warrants have been issued against three upper caste leaders—Managobinda Jena, Suren Swain, and Seshadev Nanda—for allegedly instigating people to oppose the entry of Dalits into the temple.

Dalits comprise 400 of the village's population of 1,400 people.

On November 2004, villagers beat up four Dalit women after they somehow managed to enter the temple. In caste-ridden Orissa, this discrimination is commonplace.

In Chauriberhampur village, on the outskirts of Kendrapada town, Dalits built their own Shiva temple in April this year after being denied entry into the local temple.

They appointed a Brahmin as priest at their new temple and allow people from upper castes to enter and worship.