The old practice of `no entry' for Dalits into a Lord Jagannath temple in Kendrapara district of Orissa came to and end on 28 January 2007 with the Dalit men and women entering the holy place without any opposition from the upper caste people.

Nearly 300 Dalit people visited the 300-year-old temple during the day and worshipped the deities without any complaint from the upper castes who were against the entry of Dalits till recently.

The controversy had reached the High Court in December last when tension started building up in Keredagada village of the district in the wake of the decision of the Dalits of the hamlet to enter the temple by breaking the tradition.

Acting on a public interest petition that sought protection for the Dalits in view of the upper caste opposition to their decision, the High Court had ordered that Dalits had the right to enter the shrine.

Armed by the High Court order that was passed on 5 December 2006, the Dalits of Keredagada entered the temple on 13 December 2006. However, there was strong opposition from the upper castes and the priests deserted the temple following the Dalit entry.

Later, an agreement was reached when the administration held a joint meeting of the representatives of the warring sides. It was decided that a wall having nine holes through which the Dalits were seeing the deities would be demolished and new entrance be constructed in its place for the use of those belonging to the lower castes.

The district administration took necessary measures and the construction of the new entrance was completed a few days ago paving the way for the entry of the Dalits into the temple.

But sources said the upper caste people were not happy with the formal entry of the Dalits into the place of worship, and things may go out of hand again if the administration did not keep a close watch on the situation.

(Source: The Kalinga Times)