Dancers boycott fest after Kerala temple bars artist over religion

Mangalore Today News Network

Thrissur, April 01, 2022: Several dancers have now come forward declaring solidarity with dancer Mansiya, who was denied the opportunity to perform at the Koodalmanikyam dance fest in Kerala’s Thrissur.

 

Renowned dancers Devika Sajeevan and Anju Aravind are the ones who have decided not to perform at the Koodalmanikyam temple fest, declaring their solidarity with Mansiya.

Both the dancers announced that they would withdraw from the dance programme to be held on April 24.

Devika, in her social media post, said that she is declaring solidarity with all artists who face unfortunate issues when aiming to perform. Anju Aravind was harsher in her criticism. She said that the committee had allowed Mansiya to enter the final stages and later tried to force her into signing a document saying that she is Hindu.

She further said that the decision to avoid other artists for similar reasons had also led to her decision. Anju also said that as an artist who is aware of how art is beyond religion, she cannot perform there preaching that she is a ’Hindu’.

She further alleged that several artists were denied the opportunity at the last moment, citing various reasons after accommodating them in the initial stages.

Dancer Mansiya, who was supposed to perform at Koodalmanikyam temple fest to be held on April 24, was removed from the list of performers after she refused to conform to a religion. Mansiya was raised Muslim and currently identifies as a person without any religion.

Courtesy: India Today