Dalit Christians boycott Palm Sunday celebrations

VILLUPURAM: The Palm Sunday celebrations in at least a dozen churches located in the Dalit Christian dominated areas in Cuddalore and Villupuram districts were either obstructed or suspended on Sunday.

Palm Sunday is one of the important church festivals commemorating the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. The festivities are stretched over a period of one week preceding Easter, which is termed Holy Week. On the occasion the Christians take out processions carrying tender palm leaves to churches as offerings.

The Dalit Christians, observing the day as a ‘black day,’ boycotted the festivities. In some places, they locked up the churches and hoisted black flags to protest the “discriminatory practices” adopted against them and the attack on their houses at Eraiyur near Ulundurpet on March 9. In the subsequent police firing two persons had been killed.

The Dalit Christians also evicted the parish priests and asked them to take up their cause in the meeting convened by Archbishop Anandarayan in Puducherry on Monday.

The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and the Dalit Christians’ Liberation Movement have given the call to observe the Holy Week as the “untouchability protest week.” State deputy general secretary of the VCK Sinthanai Selvan told The Hindu that the Archdiocese was not following the tenet of Pope John Paul that priests should shun caste bias and discriminatory practices.

The VCK was insisting upon equality in places of worship but the ground reality was contrary to the expectations. Party general secretary Thol. Thirumavalavan would lead a demonstration in Puducherry on March 19, seeking justice for the Dalit Christians, he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Thirumavalavan put off his visit to Eraiyur on Sunday following requests from Villupuram Collector Brajendra Navnit and Superintendent of Police A. Amalraj who felt that the visit might escalate tension and precipitate the issue.

The police said the Palm Sunday fete passed peacefully at Eraiyur Jebamalai Matha Church (of the majority Christians) in which even a handful of Dalit Christians participated.