Amidst the ongoing debate over non-Hindus performing or setting up shops in Hindu temples, classical dancer Sawmya Sukumaran on Thursday revealed that she has been receiving backlash from the Christian community for performing dance events at temples.
Speaking to ANI, Bharatanatyam dancer Sawmya Sukumaran, who is at the centre of the controversy over being denied permission to perform at a temple in Kerala, said she has been receiving backlash from her own Christian community and added that she was denied religious services from the church as she began for performing at temples.
“Art has no religion, Sukumaran she said, adding, “Had artists belonged to a religion, all of us would perform only on devotional songs. I have complaints from my community also. I was denied religious services from the church as I performed in temples on a Hindu devotional song.”
Art has no religion. Had artists belonged to a religion, all of us would perform only on devotional songs… I have complaints from my community also. I was denied religious services from the church as I performed in temples on a Hindu devotional song: Sawmya Sukumaran, artist pic.twitter.com/dfPn42gqgT
— ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2022
Sukumaran, a Christian, had earlier claimed that she was asked not to perform at the Koodalmanikyam temple in Kerala due to her religion. Sukumaran had claimed to have been banned from performing in the Koodalmanikyam Temple dance festival on religious grounds.
“I said I’m a Christian when they (authorities) asked… they replied ‘non-Hindus’ can’t perform there,” she had said.
Kerala | An artist, Sawmya Sukumaran, from Thiruvananthapuram claims to have been banned from performing in Koodalmanikyam Temple dance festival on religious grounds
— ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2022
“I said I’m a Christian when they (authorities) asked… they replied ‘non-Hindus’ can’t perform there,” she said pic.twitter.com/2dPxHztd1J
Sawmya Sukumaran said, “I told them my father was a Hindu and converted to Christianity after marriage. They said there would have been no problem if the venue had been outside the temple, but since this programme will be conducted inside, it would be difficult. I stepped back then”.
