Draws criticism on social media
Chennai – The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Government in Tamil Nadu has been accused of conspiring to secularise the Hindu festival of Pongal. On 14th January, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin attended an event organised to celebrate Pongal. During the event, a traditional ritual of cooking food for the occasion was underway. However, Chief Minister Stalin stirred controversy by participating in the cooking process alongside a Muslim woman wearing a hijab and a Christian woman wearing a cross, while a Hindu woman present at the event was reportedly sidelined. Both the Chief Minister and his son were seen wearing boots during the cooking, drawing criticism on social media. Images of the incident have been widely circulated online.
🚨🙏 OUTRAGEOUS! 🚫
Tamil Nadu CM Stalin and son Udhayanidhi disrespect Pongal by wearing boots while celebrating!
The Stalin family, who call themselves atheists and are trying to destroy Sanatan Dharma, are disrespecting Pongal in the name of celebrating it.
Hindus should… pic.twitter.com/IVZsr8HAb0
— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) January 15, 2025
During the Pongal festival, food is traditionally cooked in clay pots over a fire, and rituals involve worshiping symbols associated with Suryadev, Indra, cows, bulls, and agriculture. A picture of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin performing these rituals has been circulating on social media. In the image, he is seen distributing Prasad to a young girl while standing between a woman wearing a hijab and another wearing shoes. Similar questions have been raised regarding a photograph of the Chief Minister’s son and State minister, Udhayanidhi Stalin. Critics have alleged that the inclusion of women wearing a hijab is an attempt to secularise the Pongal festival, which they argue is an insult to Hindu traditions.
No flame,nothing boiling in the pot, wearing shoes and the (presumably) Hindu lady pushed to the edge for what is a Hindu festival. A perfect photo for all that is wrong with Dravidianism. Can those who arrange these events not do a better photo op job? Time for a new PR Agency.… https://t.co/GOshIepO3V
— Sumanth Raman (@sumanthraman) January 13, 2025
Sumanth Raman, a news anchor, took to ‘X’ to criticise the incident, stating, “No flame, nothing boiling in the pot, wearing shoes and the Hindu lady pushed to the edge for what is a Hindu festival. A perfect photo for all that is wrong with Dravidianism (Aryan vs. Dravidian narrative).” He further added a sarcastic remark, questioning the competence of those organising such events, “Can those who arrange these events not do a better photo op job? Time for a new PR Agency.”
This incident has ignited a debate on social media, with many questioning the intent and cultural sensitivity of the DMK leaders during a significant Hindu festival.
Source : Sanatan Prabhat
