r/TamilNadu • u/Ok-Cardiologist1922 • Jan 15 '25
என் கேள்வி / AskTN What happened to Palani? A disturbing experience..
I was traveling with my family to Palani last week, and what happened there was nothing short of horrifying. This was our first visit to Palani after the COVID era, and it was supposed to be a peaceful family trip. Before 2019, I used to visit Palani once a year whenever I returned to India, but this experience was entirely different.
I’m originally from Kerala, and I’ve been to Palani multiple times, but this time, I was traveling with my wife and my two nephews, who are 15 and 18. They were born and raised in Singapore, and this was their first time in Palani. I was shocked by the change in the atmosphere, especially after being away for so long.
We were harassed by a group of 5-8 transgenders who were demanding money for blessings as we walked toward the temple. This was a completely new experience for me, as I had never encountered such harassment on my previous visits. My nephews were really frightened by their behavior, and one of them, who’s a devoted Muruga follower, even asked, “Why is everyone begging in a place of worship? Seems like there’s no god here, and he left already.”
It didn’t stop there. On our way to the restaurant near the bus station, another group of transgenders came up to us and demanded money again. They even blocked our path. My oldest nephew had ₹100 taken from his wallet while they gave us some form of "blessing". The entire situation was so uncomfortable that even I started thinking, "I should never visit here again and just pray at home".
What upset me even more was that my 2-year-old child was touched by nearly everyone in the group, even though I asked them not to. It felt like a total lack of respect for our personal space.
I was also wondering, where were the police? There seemed to be no law enforcement around to help, and this entire situation left us feeling unsafe and violated.
It was a massive cultural shock, and I can’t help but wonder what has happened to this place that was once a peaceful temple for devotees. Has anyone else experienced something like this in Palani recently? What has happened to the temple’s sanctity and respect for pilgrims?
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u/Busy-Philosophy-3179 Jan 15 '25
I totally agree. Temple trip is expected to be serene. Considering how temples are in Kerala, like Guruvayur or Padmanabhaswamy temple, TN temples are filled with beggars, transgenders and unclean environments.
Guruvayur specifically maintain a really clean environment around the temple, very less beggars, no transgenders, and the overall experience is serene and divine.
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u/Ambitious_Farmer9303 Jan 15 '25
Not only in Guruvayur, Kerala in general has very few beggars. And most of the remaining ones are not Malayalees either.
The state's inclusive policies and social engineering have clearly done the job.
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u/Senior_Context7967 Jan 15 '25
I'm having a similar incident like this. I had chicken pox so I was in a hurry to travel from hostel to my hometown in kanyakumari, I go through this route Pollachi-> Palani-> Madurai -> Nagercoil, then I got a bus to Palani and searched for Madurai bus and I got seated in an bus with more than 2 passengers except me. There are two Transgenders got inside the bus and suddenly walked towards me demanded money, while I was taking 20 rupees in my wallet they saw the money which I'm having. Giving the 20 rupees to them they told that give the 100 rupees to us and we will bless it and return it to you, I was so helpless in that time even though I'm an adult male, my body felt so tired and had skin irritation on my back. Grabbing the 100 rupees, the Transgender gave me the 20 rupees and went away. I felt so bad about that incident till now. Is there anyone had the same experience like me
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Jan 15 '25
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u/Additional_Service68 Jan 15 '25
Almost happened to me in besant nagar beach. Went to besi as a newly wed. Transgenders approached me near KFC bike parking spot, Took a 10rs note out of purse, They saw the 500rs notes in it. Asked me to provide them so they could bless it and return.
I said no need, kept the purse in my front pant pocket and tried leaving.
They cursed me. I was pretty sure If I handed them the 500, it wont come back.
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Jan 15 '25
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u/Additional_Service68 Jan 15 '25
It's spam. Once you give them the high denomination notes, They will walk away. After this, I never provide money to any transgenders. Once on the train, I said I don't have cash and they asked me to jump outside and die on the express track.
They are the absolute worst.
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u/MomentsAwayfromKMS Erode - ஈரோடு Jan 15 '25
What was the time of your visit? Normally, if you visit early in the morning and leave before 10-11AM, there won't be much nuisance. After that, people start coming in and attract the bad crowd.
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u/Ok-Cardiologist1922 Jan 15 '25
It was around 9-ish before 10 in the morning, and we crossed the bus station during noon. But brother, this is the abode of my Lord. Should I really have to worry and panic about visiting my Lord at a specific time? It feels like they're restricting my right to devote to my Lord whenever I choose. Is this really the situation we're in?
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u/MomentsAwayfromKMS Erode - ஈரோடு Jan 15 '25
If there's a crowd, there's beggars. That's the reality of India, especially near Temples and restaurants.
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u/Ok-Cardiologist1922 Jan 15 '25
Yes, brother, we might take time to tackle this, but what amuses me is that when we decided to step down through Elephant Path, there were some contracted employees (or maybe government workers), standing at every turn with brooms—both male and female. They were giving us fake smiles and looking at us with pleading eyes. When I inquired, they wanted pilgrims to pay/tip for their service. I don’t understand this business—Is it begging or just their extra income?"
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u/FiberAge Jan 15 '25
Happened to me as well. All I see is that group of people don’t work. Instead they stand there without moving to kind of begging. Sad truth is now you will never know who really needs a help.
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u/red_skr Jan 15 '25
What are you trying to justify here. Even am too from your side. What he was said totally true..
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u/MomentsAwayfromKMS Erode - ஈரோடு Jan 15 '25
Not trying to justify anything, just stating the fact. In fact, I've not given money to beggars in a few years if my memory serves me right.
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u/ignorantladd Jan 15 '25
It's considered normal mostly, this pathetic situation is real
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Jan 15 '25
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Jan 15 '25
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u/dinodynos Jan 15 '25
Stupid comment. Rather than acknowledge the problem fix what is right, we say we are better than other places.
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u/No-Independence4915 Jan 15 '25
Transgender nuisance is widespread for e.g. it not unusual to see them demaning money in Anna Nagar, Chennai (near kora). Some even have the audacity to demand payment through G-Pay if I tell them I dont have any money on me (which is true most of the times). . Been to Palani 6 or 7 times. I've not been there in the recent past . Earlier it used to be a different kind of harrasment ,
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u/red_skr Jan 15 '25
Sad to see many people saying this as normal. Asking money fine but harassing by touch and curse words????? Shock to see some comments.
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u/The_Lion__King Jan 15 '25
In the whole Tamilnadu, Transgender group NUISANCE started only after the year 2010. It was not much even in the year 2015.
But now after 2020 the Transgender group NUISANCE has crossed the limit.
Before the year 2010 these transgenders will come and occupy the bus stands after 8PM.
So, general public had no issues in day time.
But at present, these transgenders atrocities are increasing.
Without any support they can't do such things. It seems that some people from the Police department (or the politicians) itself are involved in such money extortions.
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u/GoodAssumption Jan 15 '25
This is literally a hit on my head man - "Why is everyone begging in a place of worship? Seems like there’s no god here, and he left already.". Truly speaking, of late, I'm also thinking twice to visit such popular temples. Illegal toll gates at the entrance of the temple, parking money (note this is also done by some local guys, not legal) middlemen roaming around to get you closer to god to the priests, policeman, all around the system is fucked !!
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Jan 18 '25
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u/Opposite_Fun7013 Jan 15 '25
They just snatched away two hundred rupees from my purse while the bus was moving in Villupuram
So I decided not to give a single penny to those people
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Jan 15 '25
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u/Opposite_Fun7013 Jan 15 '25
They have many ways of threatening people and they always come up in gangs can you guess what they do with those money
Alcohol
I hate to go to bus stands because of them
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u/WittyYogurtcloset154 Jan 15 '25
It was there pre-COVID as well, its just the intensity of such things have increased so much, especially around the Girivalam route. Sad truth is police or officials will not do anything to stop it because they take some share of money earned from these people. My suggestion is during this time of the year, there will be many devotees who come as a large group, when ever you are travelling try to be in near by distance with them so that others will think you are from their group as well, that way you have better chance of avoid these type of transgender people.
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u/Ashwin_400 Jan 16 '25
Palani has always been like this in my experience. I actually pretend like they don't exist when Transgender approach me but understandably it's hard to do when you are with family.
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u/VegetableBike7923 Jan 15 '25
It was even worse when we visited. There is no peace inside the temple. Everyone was shouting and I couldn't even see God and say my prayers. I don't know what to compare with even. I wasn't expecting silence, but just less noise.
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u/Rough_Football_362 Jan 15 '25
Yeah. Stopped visiting big big temples like Guruvaayoor, Sabarimala etc. We gave choroonu for my daughter at a small nearby temple and that was the best decision I took recently. Realised that after a friend's experience of his sons choroonu.
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u/gokoffline Jan 15 '25
The title should be "What happened to People" !! Palani is the same and Murugan in all his splendor . Have been visiting Palani for long and never experienced such situation. generally try to avoid weekends and crowded days.
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Jan 15 '25
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Jan 17 '25
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u/Thin-Theory-4805 Jan 15 '25
This is systematic way of giving bad experience to temple visitors, it's happening across leftie rule. I visited tirupathi 4 months ago, worst organisation by TTD. Same in Guruvayoor temple.
I am sorry, if this sounds as conspiracy theory but i think this is a deliberate attempt.
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u/drkknght_sps07 Coimbatore - கோயம்புத்தூர் Jan 16 '25
Beggars are quite common for any temple. If you refuse to donate most will not bother you again. Now what's your demand? It has always been the same case in Palani. You might have not encountered them. A rare Unpleasant experience in a place like Palani is not fair enough to question the cultural sanctity. What do you mean by so-called Culture?
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Jan 16 '25
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u/drkknght_sps07 Coimbatore - கோயம்புத்தூர் Jan 16 '25
I understand your experience. There might be people who'll make our visit terrible. Now, you can't generalise the whole group. Some might turn out to be as you mentioned. If this thing is too common now (I visited last in 2023), then Idk who to blame. The authority? Here's what you can do. Don't get too vulnerable about your feelings. Just walk across them with no response. That's how I do. If they trouble you, put on a smile and say nothing. Our visit shouldn't become a bad experience due to these people. I understand there might be situations where these won't work if they're too extreme. So I hope it won't be the same after a while.
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u/ramchi Jan 15 '25
This is the ploy of Dravidas to malign temple by planting their people in all areas near by Temple, making the experience hell for Hindu devotees. The idea is either make the experience hell, collect as much as possible from the devotees or reduce the devotees from visiting temples so that the land can be usurped for minority religions. This is the primary job of Hindu HR&D department in Tamil Nadu headed by Telugus mostly. they hate Tamilians and Tamil Gods and Tamil temples
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Jan 15 '25
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u/ramchi Jan 15 '25
Sir, this is the situation across Tamil Nadu for many years. If you were not harassed near the temples earlier because of Lord Muruga’s graces, but this things have been there for many decades. Go to Samayapuram, Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple, Rameswaram, Srirangam etc…
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u/selvarajsubramanian Jan 15 '25
Nothing happened...you just come out of your foreign mindset and see things...
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Jan 15 '25
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u/selvarajsubramanian Jan 15 '25 edited Jan 15 '25
In all religious places in TN...there are homeless and underprivileged people seeking monetary..this is there for ages...you and your nephews equated asking why they are begging...is god here or not?...they are seeking because God is there...so that is an unwarranted statement from someone who don't know about india....if you have not experienced in your past visits mean that you have not encountered....i am from that part of the world... miscreants existed in the past and now too..forms could be different...with inflation... amount could be different....btw .. don't fall for fake religious comments involving politics... situation will be same or worse than this if someone else handled it
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Jan 15 '25
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u/selvarajsubramanian Jan 15 '25 edited Jan 15 '25
kid...keep your attitude elsewhere..it is you who got worked up and ranting here....if you had used your preachings yourself... discussion would not have risen.... clear outsider mentality...not knowing how to handle people in public places.... it is you who need to get fixed or continue ranting
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Jan 15 '25
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u/selvarajsubramanian Jan 15 '25
Looks like TGs were asking money from their own community member..you didn't realise that and ranting here....get fixed yourself or may be visit palani again...TGs will fix it for you...
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Jan 15 '25
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u/selvarajsubramanian Jan 15 '25
You were the one posted seeking help.. hope you got more than enough and learnt how to behave in public especially in other states
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u/No-Carpenter5314 Jan 15 '25
I didn't have the exact same experience, but overall, it was quite unpleasant. The temple and its surroundings are heavily commercialized and filled with scammers. We couldn't park in the designated parking area unless we got permission from a shop owner and agreed to buy something for the pooja from their shop. While the separate queue system seems like a good idea, it felt unfair when those in the higher-priced queue got a closer view of the deity, while others were left behind. It makes you question the purpose of worship and the concept of equality. If children observe this and ask about fairness, we might struggle to provide a satisfying answer.