Two sects clash over who sings first at temple ritual in Tamil Nadu's Kancheepuram

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A long-standing rivalry between the Vadakalai and Thenkalai sects of Shrivaishnavites reignited on Wednesday during the annual ‘Paarivettai’ ritual at the Varadharaja Perumal temple in Tamil Nadu.

The spat unfolded while the deity was being carried in a glass palanquin to Pazhaiyaseevaram village for the Maattu Pongal festivities.

As the procession passed through Walajabad and surrounding areas, an argument erupted between the two sects over who should sing hymns first. The disagreement quickly escalated into shouting and pushing, leaving the police unable to control the situation.

Eventually, local villagers intervened, urging the two groups to stop fighting so the ritual could continue peacefully. The procession resumed without further disruption. Vadakalai adherents primarily follow Sanskrit scriptures, while Thenkalai devotees emphasise Tamil hymns.