By IANS
Rameswaram : Authorities of the Rameswaram temple, a famous pilgrimage site in south India, are reported to have performed a purification ritual following a visit to the temple Saturday by local legislator Hasan Ali.
Ali wanted to inspect the cracks that have developed in the temple's east tower and discuss renovation efforts with Tamil Nadu's Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments K.R. Periyakaruppan.
The local units of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Shiv Sena protested the visit of the legislator as he is not a Hindu.
Temple authorities reportedly performed the cleansing ritual Sunday.
The Rameswaram temple, dedicated to Rama, is situated 500 km south of Chennai.
A similar ritual was performed by priests of the Guruvayur temple in Kerala after Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi entered the temple last month.