KOCHI: Breaking the caste barriers, K.S. Anurag, a member of the Ezhava community, took charge of the Malakettu Kazhakam post at the Irinjalakuda Koodalmanikyam temple on Monday. At 2 pm, Anurag, accompanied by his father K.T. Sumesh and mother Sheeba, appeared before Devaswom Administrator G.S. Radhesh. After completing the procedures, he joined duty at 5 pm. Anurag was also allotted Devaswom quarters adjacent to the temple walls.

It was Kerala Kaumudi's report that brought out the caste discrimination in the temple, which later paved the way for big debates and discussions.

Devaswom had sent the appointment order to Anurag on the same day the High Court dismissed the petition filed by the Tantris, the traditional Kazhakam clan of Thekkavaryam Harikrishnan. Anurag will fill the void made by B.A. Balu, a member of the Ezhava community, who resigned due to caste discrimination.

SNDP Yogam Irinjalakuda Union Councillor P.K. Prasannan, Yogam Director K.K. Binu, Karukulangara Branch Secretary Thaivalappil Sreedharan, public activists Dr. Amal C. Raj, Sudesh M. Raghu, Resurgence Foundation President K.B. Suresh, KPMS State Vice President P.N. Suran, CPI State Committee Member T.K. Sudheesh, CPI Mandal Secretary N.K. Udayaprakash, Adv. Vishwajith Thampan and Gargian Sudheer reached the temple on Monday to support Anurag.

The job of the Kazhakam staff is to tie a special lotus garland to be hung on the Lord Bharata idol known as Sangameshwara. About 80 lotus buds are needed for one garland. This is the most important offering to the Lord. The garland costs around Rs. 850. The administrator assigned P.R. Rajesh, a temple employee, to train Anurag for two days.