A 27-year-old Mansiya VP, a Bharatanatyam performer from Kerala has been denied permission to perform in Thrissur’s Koodalmanikyam temple because she is a non-Hindu. After facing backlash from the community, two dancers Devika Sajeevan and Anju Aravind who were scheduled to perform at this temple have pulled out in solidarity with Mansiya VP.

Mansiya was slated to perform Bharatanatyam on April 21 during the Koodalmanikyam Temple Festival in Irinjalakuda, Kerala. However, on March 27, she received a call from temple officials informing her that she might be unable to perform at the event. The Koodalmanikyam dance and music festival, which takes place on a pandal stretched over 12 acres of the temple premises, welcomes about 800 performers from nine states, including Kerala.

According to the Temple authorities, they had placed a newspaper ad inviting only Hindu artists. They were unaware of Mansiya’s religious background when she was selected. They say that Mansiya cannot perform at the temple as non-Hindus are not allowed inside Sanctum sanctorum.

Mansiya V P, who holds a doctorate in Bharatanatyam, was born in a Muslim family but claims of following no religion. She further said that her husband and family live in the Hindu way but she doesn’t follow any religion. Mansiya, who is married to musician Shyam Kalyan, claimed she has had to deal with the wrath of the Muslim community due to her passion for dance.

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Mansiya took to Facebook to express her disappointment at being denied entry to the prestigious event. She said one of the temple office-bearers informed her that she cannot perform at the temple as she is a non-Hindu. All stages are allotted based on religion, not considering whether you are a good dancer or not, she added.

This is not the first time Mansiya has faced this. Her family was boycotted by the mahallu committee in Vallumvambram of Malappuram district after she became a Bharatanatyam dancer. The local mosque had even refused to perform the last rites of her mother who died of Cancer.

Now, interestingly Vishva Hindu Parishad has thrown its support behind Mansiya and has invited her to perform at the Pavakkulam temple in Kochi.

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The post Koodalmanikyam Temple: Non-Hindu Bharatanatyam dancer denied permission to perform in Kerala temple, two others withdraw in solidarity appeared first on APN News.