Tamil Nadu: VCK Comes Out Against HR&CE Department's Shivaratri Festival

The HR&CE Department has organised music, dance and other festivities on the Shivaratri day at Kapaleeswarar temple. 

VCK leader Vanni Arasu | Credit: ABP Nadu

Chennai: The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), an alliance partner of DMK, came out against Tamil Nadu government's Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department for conducting Shivaratri Celebration in Kapaleeswarar temple in Chennai on March 1. 

According to IANS, in a statement on Friday, VCK's Vanni Arasu said, it is dangerous that the state government conducts religious festivals. HR&CE is a department for the purpose of managing temples and the department should just confine to overseeing the temple management.

Taking a harder tone against the ally, Vanni Arasu said, DMK formed the government by showcasing secular credentials. However, now is it taking this position to please RSS and BJP, he asked. 

The DMK government should not organise events for propagating any religion since it will give a wrong message to the people of Tamil Nadu, he said. 

The HR&CE Department has scheduled music, dance and other festivities on the Shivaratri day at Kapaleeswarar temple. 

Meanwhile, Isha Yoga Centre is planning a grand Mahashivaratri festival this year at the Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore. The festival that is expected to start at 6 Pm on March 1 is expected to go on till 6 Am the next day. The program will be held in the presence of Sadhguru and the event will be live-streamed online. The events will be telecast on major television channels in English, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and other regional languages. 

The Mahashivaratri is a traditional festival celebrating the Grace of Lord Shiva across India.