The temple authorities submitted that the Brahmotsavam festival had already commenced on June 3 and they would take a decision on conducting the festival in future.
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The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department to file a counter affidavit to a public interest litigation petition that sought a direction to authorities to conduct the Brahmotsavam festival at Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram for 10 days instead of three days.

A Division Bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and A.D. Maria Clete was hearing the petition filed by an advocate Elephant Rajendran of Chennai. The petitioner said that Brahmotsavam festival is conducted in all temples in the State. However, it was not conducted for 10 years in Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameswaram.

The Brahmotsavam festival is conducted for 10 days. However, this year it is going to be held for only three days. The modification of the ancient temple practice is hurting the religious sentiments of the devotees, he said.

The Brahmotsavam festival should be conducted for 10 days instead of three days. The petition was filed seeking relief in ensuring the age-old traditions of the temple were not tampered with, he said.

He said that to curtail the 10-day festival to three days was arbitrary. The authorities cannot interfere with religious affairs. He sought a direction to authorities to extend the festival by seven more days and conduct a 10-day festival at the temple.

During the course of the hearing, the temple authorities submitted that the Brahmotsavam festival had already commenced on June 3 and the authorities will take a decision with regard to conducting the festival for the coming years. The court posted the matter for hearing after two weeks.