THRISSUR: The Cochin Devaswom Board (CDB) has decided to reform the 'Kalkazhukichoottu' ritual as part of its efforts to wriggle out of the criticisms of casteist practices it was facing, after some temples under it publicised the conduct of this ritual.
The ritual involved feeding the Brahmins after washing their feet and as per the reform the non-Brahmins can also be offered similar rituals.
The name of the ritual has also been changed to 'Samaradhana' and according to the board president V Nandakumar, these reforms are being introduced after holding dialogues with the Tantri Samajam.
Non-Brahmins can also become priests in the temples under the CDB.
Nandakumar said all those who are now eligible for conducting the pujas in the temples under the CDB can also be invited for the Kalkazhukichoottu ritual, which has now been renamed as 'Samaradhana'.
The CDB president said those eligible for 'Samaradhana' puja will be invited during the 'nivedya' puja time at the temple and they will be offered the puja after considering them as equivalent to the Gods.
They will then apply soil on their feet by themselves, and the temple tantris will pour water on their feet.
Later, a portion of the nivedyam offered at the sanctum sanctorum will be offered to those being offered the 'Samaradhana' puja, Nandakumar said.
The CDB ruled by the LDF nominees had courted controversies after the Sivakrishnapuram Temple, Edavilangu near Kodungallur and the Vellani Njalikkulam Mahadeva Temple, both managed by the board, had announced their decision to conduct the Kalkazhukichoottu ritual recently.
The Guruvayur devaswom was also at the centre of a similar controversy recently after releasing an advertisement inviting applications exclusively from the members of the Brahmin community for the posts of cooks and kitchen helpers.
The allegation had caused a major embarrassment to the ruling LDF regime and minister K Radhakrishnan directed the devaswom managing committee to revisit the decision.
