In India, are Untouchables (Dalits) not allowed to enter temples?

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Harsh...!

We see in news... There are some temples where dalits are not allowed...
I do not understand one thing... Where there is a big crowd how the cast of each devotee is established...?

I think the so called dalits and the so called higher casts and all of usâ€¦ should boycott such religious places where there is discrimination...

The officials of the temple who practice discrimination based on cast should be brought to books and legal cases should be filed against them... As this practice is against the constitution of India...

All the religious places should be open for people of all the religions, casts, nationality and races...

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The great religion Hinduism should not be held responsible for practicing untouchability... Hinduism does not preach untouchability...

Prime religious scriptures do not have any records or mention of the casts currently practices... These casts have been fabricated by criminal minded village heads and the societies governed by autocratic third grade kings during roundabout 15th â€“ 16th century...

3rd eye

Yes it is true for some temples..I am an Indian..and against all kinds of discrimination on basis of caste...well I have'nt seen any preist outside any temple here asking for ur caste..but is really sad that this happens..how i wish the whole world coould just be One

vakayil k

About couple of years back, they were barred from entering the temples. however, things have changed now and presently there is no restriction for the dalits to enter the temple. However, even now non-hindus are not allowed to enter the temples in some areas..

Aditya

Its in ancient times. Caste system was too much in those days. Now-a-days there is no such untouchability in people. I also heard that the people who belong to upper castes behaved so cruel at people of lower castes. I think such system is still continuing in remote parts of India. We should eradicate it totally from India.

bruce

it is true........... its more than cruel..its outrageous...its meaningless.............. this is one factor i dont like abt indian society

Handy

It was prevelent years back ... but not now..

mal.nabanita

www.tourisminindia.com

supratik m

yes dalits are not being allowed to enter temples in india as the uppper class think they are un touchable as they might bring ill luck and health to the family

Harish

They are now. But earlier, they weren't. Now infact, you can hardly find any Brahman in a temple, nowadays. You cannot blame Hinduism for this. Castism was brought into it for just having groups of people & never meant to discriminate or tease. There is no mention of untouchability in Hinduism or the vedas. It was brought in by Foriegn people, especially the British. There was this Governor General- Viceroy, Max Muuler, who rewrited everything and even brought in the crazy theory of the Aryan invasion. But has been proved wrong.

Hinduism doesn't believe in colour or creed. Krishna was very dark or black. He mingled with everyone. Rama was a great friend of Guha, a fisherman. That is what Hinduism is all about, equality. You will realize it only if you see through all the false claims.

v j

It was prevelant in old times..Now its not that much..infact non-existant in big cities n metros....still its like racism problem of West, doesn't exist by large in all..still gets much hype due to small no. of people that still believe in all this.

Anita P

I was born in India, but I am not Hindu, my family is Jewish, but yes, I know about these things you are talking about. Unfortunately discrimination exist in many ways all over the world...
Listen, itâ€™s interesting, because caste systems have been officially abolished since a long time.
Anyhow, caste system still stays alive in the head of those people who are supposed to belong to a higher caste and still want to feel superior on one hand and on the other hand they even do believe that they deserve a better treatment than others because of their higher caste.
Human nature tends to behave in that ridiculous way, and many people simply like to look down on others just to feel better.
Fortunately, caste system does not exist anymore at least officially. So this means, that at least people from the so-called lowest caste get the same educational and working possibilities at least on the papers.
The problem is always more evident in rural areas, where people do not have much education and still stick to old traditions like these.
I know people who (unofficially) belong to the caste of the untouchables and thanks to education and studies nowadays they are well employed and earning a very good living. So these things are possible now, in former times it was not even worth to dream about. You were born into a certain caste and you had lo live your life according to what was expected from you because of belonging to this certain caste until the day of your death...
I think in India big changes have taken place and many things have been improved already. Nowadays India is a democratic country, giving the same rights to all Indian citizens. Of course, it is not easy to eradicate ancient beliefs like the inhuman caste system from peopleâ€™s way of thinking in such a short time. Please remember that Indian culture is one of the most ancient cultures of the world!!! So of course itâ€™s difficult to eliminate such beliefs, which have been essential in Indian society and religion throughout thousands of years in such a relatively short time, say 60 years.
And donâ€™t forget that India is one of the most populated countries of the world; itâ€™s not easy to make sure that education reaches everybody in the same way.
The clue is giving at least essential education for all citizens. I mean, not everybody will be able to have a master degree, but there should be basic education available for everybody, so this way people will learn that every human being has to be respected the same way. And even whatâ€™s more important, if basic education skills are proposed to these people who are so-called untouchables, they themselves will learn to respect themselves and they will not accept to be treated this way any longer.
If a person feels oppressed and does not see the possibility to improve his situation, he will give up any hope to change it.
So, give them education to make them stronger and things will change.
I think that India has shown that it is a great country with the will to change and improve. Of course, nothing is perfect, but give it time and you will see that in the future things will get better and better. India is on its way to develop a political system, which provides justice and a minimum of good life standard for everybody.

vikilion

yes in some temple it still hapens

ulagam

Now, there is an Act prohibiting the practise. Even during the British Raj, the Meenakshi temple was thrown open to all castes, after a successful movement for reformation. Rajaji was the Prime Minister of the Madras State at that time. Viswanatha Iyer spear headed the movement. Rajaji ensured that entry of the 'untouchables' into the temple was legal, through an ordinance. Now, in the Independent India, no recognised temples can allow the practice of untouchability. It is possible that in some temples run by private endowments or private persons continue with this obnoxious practice, despite the fact that it is illegal. No amount of legislative prohibition will really stamp out such evil practice. A lot of soul searching and revolution is required before a true egalitarianism sets in.

Alice

Yes it is true. Some people are moving out of this ridiculous treatment but unfortunately others still go with this tradition. It is not only temples, but schools, restaurant and even neighbors homes and gardens

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