Two minor Hindu students barred from entering class by teachers for wearing Ayyappa Deeksha attire
Thrissur, Kerala, India 
17 November, 2025
Case Summary
In Thrissur, Kerala, two minor Hindu students from the Alagappa Nagar Panchayat Government Higher Secondary School were barred from attending classes by their teachers for wearing black attire during the Ayyappa Deeksha—the traditional black religious clothing worn by devotees during the pilgrimage preparations to Sabarimala. During the Sabarimala vratham, devotees wear black or dark blue as a marker of simplicity and detachment, with the austerity period beginning in the Malayalam month of Vrischikam and continuing until the Mandala Pooja in December. Two Hindu students who were observing the traditional period of austerity were prohibited from attending classes by their teachers. The teachers instructed the students that they could only attend class in the prescribed school uniform. After the students informed their parents, the incident drew attention from members of the BJP, Congress, CPM, and panchayat officials, who arrived at the school to intervene. BJP members demanded an apology from the teachers involved. The situation was resolved following a discussion led by Puthukkad SHO Adam Khan, during which school authorities agreed to permit students to wear black clothing throughout the vratham period.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
In this case, the school teachers barred two Hindu students from entering the classroom for wearing the Ayyappa Deeksha attire—the black religious clothes worn by Ayyappa devotees. This decision sparked outrage among the Hindu community. This is not the first time such controversy has erupted. In 2022, in Karnataka, a heated debate erupted when Muslim girls insisted on wearing burqas and hijabs in schools and classrooms. At that time, politicians, social commentators, Hindu activists, and even the judiciary argued that schools have the right to enforce uniform rules. Uniformity was seen as a means to promote harmony and equality within classrooms. Therefore, disallowing hijabs was deemed enforcement of uniform policy rather than religious discrimination. Similar logic can apply here. The school's restriction on wearing the black Ayyappa Deeksha attire may well have been an enforcement of uniform regulations rather than an act motivated by religious bias. However, if the school allowed Muslim students to wear hijabs but barred Hindu students from wearing their religious symbols, it would certainly amount to a hate crime, exposing blatant discrimination and double standards. At present, based on available information, such differential treatment does not appear evident in this case. Therefore, this case is being added to the 'Undecided' database of the Hinduphobia Tracker. If any further information emerges indicating religious bias, it will be reclassified and added to the Hate Crime database.
Victim Details
Total Victim
2
Deceased
0
Gender
- Male 0
- Female 0
- Third Gender 0
- Unknown 2
Caste
- SC/ST 0
- OBC 0
- General 0
- Unknown 2
Age Group
- Minor 2
- Adult 0
- Senior Citizen 0
- Unknown 0
Case Status
Complaint not filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
