Namitha Vankawala, an actress and BJP state executive member, recently revealed that she was asked to prove her Hindu identity during a visit to the renowned Sri Meenakshi Sundareshwar temple.
She expressed her disappointment over what she described as rude behavior from the temple officials.
According to Vankawala, a temple official prevented her from having darshan (the viewing of a deity) and demanded proof of her Hindu faith.
Accompanied by her husband, Veerendra Chowdary, Vankawala took to social media to share her frustration, noting that they were questioned about their religion despite identifying as Hindus.
She emphasized that both she and her husband are born Hindus and have visited various temples across the country without facing such scrutiny.
In a video posted on her social media platforms, Vankawala urged P K Sekarbabu, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister, to take action. She described the experience as humiliating, stating that the officials spoke rudely and demanded a certificate to prove her caste and faith.
A senior temple official responded to the allegations, clarifying that the inquiry was part of temple tradition. The official explained that Vankawala and her husband were initially stopped because they were wearing masks, which led to a brief inquiry about their religion.
Once they clarified their Hindu identity, the official stated that Vankawala was given kumkum (a ceremonial mark) and permitted to proceed with the darshan of Goddess Meenakshi.
