Actress Amala Paul was denied permission to visit Thiruvairanikulam Mahadeva temple in Ernakulam district for a darshan citing 'Hindu norms' by the authorities on Monday. The actress addressed the issue as religious discrimination and the issue has now become a topic of debate.

Temple authorities stopped Amala from visiting the temple shrine reportedly citing her religious identity. “I am sad and disappointed that even in 2023 religious discrimination exists. I couldn’t go to Devi, but I feel fortunate to have felt her grace at least from a distance. I wish this religious discrimination changes and we all will be treated as human beings and not religious beings,’ Amala Paul wrote in the temple visitor’s register.

The temple administration, which is run by Thiruvairanikulam Mahadeva Temple Trust, has been under the radar ever since the incident came to light. “This is a temple that follows Hindu customs. Some devotees belonging to other religions visit the temple, but no one knows that. However, when a celebrity from another community comes, it becomes a controversy. For example, many Christians and Muslims may be visiting the Guruvayoor temple. However, the issue is only on entry for Yesudas as he is a celebrity," said the trust secretary.

"Yesterday Amala Paul came for a darshan. We asked her about her religion as she came to the office. We asked her whether she underwent any conversion to Hinduism, and she answered no. So we denied our difficulty to provide her entry into the temple as it can be a controversy. We told her to have a darshan from the road and she accepted. She came back to the office and we offered her prasadam," Trust secretary added.