The Guruvayur Devaswom Managing Committee will meet shortly to consider the Kerala High Court directive to rename ‘Kodathi Vilakku’, the ceremonial lighting of lamps at Guruvayur Sree Krishna Swami Temple, held as part of the annual temple festival.
The event is considered one of the major offerings at the Guruvayur Temple, where all the lamps in the temple are lit and a procession with three elephants is held. A Nadaswaram concert is also held. The Vilakku is organised by the Sree Guruvayurappan Ekadashi Court Vilakku Celebration Committee, comprising members of the Chavakkad Munsiff Court Bar Association.
The Devaswom Bench of the court, comprising Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan and K.V. Jayakumar, observed that the nomenclature ‘Kodathi Vilakku’ may inadvertently create an impression of an institutional association or endorsement by the judiciary in relation to an event connected with a particular religious tradition. The Bench suggested adopting a name that would serve the interest of maintaining the perception of institutional neutrality.
The court issued the direction on a petition filed by Rajeswari, administrator of Gurubaba Ashram, Guruvayur.
The petitioner argued that the Kodathi Vilakku was continuing at Guruvayur Sree Krishna Swami Temple despite the court banning it in 2022. She had also sought a ban on ‘Police Vilakku’, ‘Postal Vilakku’, ‘SBI Vilakku’, ‘Canara Bank Vilakku’, and ‘Dhanalakshmi Vilakku’ at the temple.
A Single Bench of Justice A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar, in 2022, had advised judicial officers in Thrissur not to “actively involve themselves in the organising of the said event, either by consenting to be a part of the organising committee or in any other manner.” The Bench further said that they should not feel compelled or obliged to attend the event. However, the Bench felt that the use of the name ‘Kodathi Vilakku’ was unacceptable as it gave the impression that the courts were in some way connected with the organisation of the event. As secular democratic institutions under the Constitution, the courts cannot be seen engaging in activities that promote any particular religion, the Bench had held.
Responding to the developments, A. V. Gopinath, chairperson of the Guruvayur Devaswom Managing Committee, said a decision on the name would be taken in consultation with the festival organising committee and in full compliance with the High Court order.
“The organising committee would decide the name, and accordingly we would proceed with the programme. The only hiccup that might arise would be if the committee says that it can’t decide on a name; even then, we would consult with the High Court and proceed,” he said.
