A group of hereditary priests (tantris) met at Thripunithura on Thursday to register their protest against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for describing the Sabarimala tantri as an employee of the Travancore Devaswom Board.

Akkeeramon Kalidasan Bhattathirippad, former vice president of the BDJS, criticised Mr. Vijayan for “not understanding temple rituals and the position of tantri” and allegedly attempting to belittle the community of temple priests. He said the community stood with believers and was in favour of safeguarding temple rituals.

It was unfortunate that the Supreme Court verdict, which allowed the entry of women of all age groups into Sabarimala temple, was in contravention of the existing rituals of the temple.