In yet another state-sponsored attack on Hindu traditions, the Communist government of Kerala, led by CM Pinarayi Vijayan, has once again disrespected a sacred Hindu site. Non-vegetarian food was cooked on Aattu Mandapam, the rock dais on Shankhumukham Beach in Thiruvananthapuram, in connection with “Theerasamgamam” (Beach Meet), a food festival organised by Kudumbashree, a government-controlled body. The Aattu Mandapam is a revered site where the Arattu Pooja takes place as part of the Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple festival, making this act a blatant desecration of Hindu customs.
The Kudumbashree unit of the Kerala Govt prepares meat in the sacred mandapa at Shankumugham Beach, where Lord Padmanabhaswamy arrives for ritual bath twice a year.,the very floor where the Lord is seated during occasion is used to serve meat.Hindus are taken for granted always pic.twitter.com/DprzMYzIfy
— Ashwin Sampatkumaran (@Ashwinsampathk) February 16, 2025
Widespread protests erupted after Janam TV Malayalam News Channel broke the news on the morning of 16 February, exposing how fish and meat were being cooked on the sacred site as part of the Kudumbashree programme. The Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple Governing Committee and local BJP leaders, including Thiruvananthapuram central Zilla BJP president Karamana Jayan, swiftly intervened, forcing the authorities to halt the cooking.
Hindu leaders also objected to the temporary toilets set up near the Mandapam, which were later demolished by the police. However, despite clear evidence of wrongdoing, no action has been taken against the guilty.
The Kerala Kshetra Samrakshana Samiti has condemned the act, calling it a deliberate attempt to insult Hindu traditions with the state government’s full support.
VHP State President Viji Thampi strongly condemned the incident, criticising Kudumbashree for its sinister role in the desecration.
Critics argue that this is not an isolated incident but a continuation of the Communist regime’s systematic efforts to undermine Hindu beliefs and traditions. CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s administration has repeatedly shown hostility towards Hindu religious institutions, while bending over backwards to appease minorities. Be it government interference in temple administration, prioritising Waqf claims over Hindu land rights, or allowing radical elements to disrupt Hindu festivals, the Communist government has a long track record of anti-Hindu policies. The latest desecration of Aattu Mandapam fits into this larger pattern of deliberate disrespect.
Kudumbashree, the organisation behind the event, is a poverty eradication and women empowerment programme implemented by the Government of Kerala. It operates under a three-tier structure, with Neighbourhood Groups (NHGs) at the lowest level, Area Development Societies (ADS) in the middle, and Community Development Societies (CDS) at the local government level.
Hindus believe this act of desecration was a Communist conspiracy, intended to provoke and humiliate the Hindu community. The lack of any punitive action against those responsible further strengthens this belief. The Pinarayi Vijayan government’s silence on such repeated attacks on Hindu religious sites only reinforces its anti-Hindu agenda.
Disrespecting Hindu traditions and mocking rituals has long been an embedded strategy of the Communist regime. However, when caught red-handed, they silently retreat without offering an apology or taking responsibility—a classic pattern of Communists operating under the guise of atheists. Kerala has witnessed numerous such incidents over the years, with this latest case of cooking non-vegetarian food at Aattu Mandapam further proving the ongoing targeting of Hindu customs under Communist rule.
This is not just about one temple or one festival. It is about a government that systematically undermines Hindu faith while selectively protecting and promoting the interests of certain communities for political gains.
