Pune’s Nashik Dhol team at Athachamayam rally in Kerala’s Thripunithura triggers row over alleged saffronisation

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Members of the Nashik Dhol team performing during the Athachamayam procession in Thripunithura on August 16. | Photo Credit: Thulasi Kakkat

A political controversy has erupted over the Athachamayam procession held in Thripunithura on August 16, heralding the Onam celebrations in the State, with both the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] and the Congress alleging attempt to saffronise the cultural event with a long legacy.

The two parties have slammed the organisers for allowing the performance of a Pune-based Nashik Dhol team during which a saffron flag was reportedly hoisted. The Left Democratic Front councillors of the Thripunithura municipality and the Congress’ Thripunithura block committee recently staged separate protests against the alleged politicisation of the event.

“Never in the history of Athachamayam procession, nobody has tried to mix politics with it. Permitting the Nashik Dhol team to hoist the saffron flag of the Sangh Parivar was a clear attempt to saffronise the event,” former Minister and Thripunithura MLA K. Babu said. He sought an explanation from the Athaghosha committee chairman and general convener on the issue.

Responding to the allegations, general convenor E.S. Rakesh Pai, who is also an LDF councillor and standing committee chairperson in the municipality, said the procession sub-committee took unilateral decisions ignoring the general committee’s stand on avoiding political interventions in the event. “I had made it clear that ₹4 lakh for the Nashik Dhol team will not be allowed from the Athaghosham fund. Then the team was brought in the name of sponsporship, and people with badges distributed through RSS shakhas were made to stand around the team, in a clear bid to communalise the event,” Mr. Pai said in a statement.

Thripunithura municipal chairperson P.L. Babu, who is also the chairman of the Athaghosha committee, rubbished the allegations as politically motivated. “All decisions pertaining to the procession were taken through consultations with everyone involved. We invited the Nashik Dhol team only to enrich the procession. Our initial plan was to invite floats from across the country, but then we had time constraints. The Pune team hoisted the flag in honour of Chhatrapati Shivaji as part of their performance. The flag had nothing to do with the RSS,” he said.

The chairperson said the issue was raised in the municipal council on Saturday, and he had made his stand clear. This is the first time the event was held after the BJP assumed power in the municipality.

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