UDF workers, including members of the Muslim League and the Indian National Congress, raised slogans during a victory procession in Edavanna, Malappuram district, demanding that early morning devotional songs played at Hindu temples be stopped, claiming they caused disturbance to residents.
The incident occurred near the Mahavishnu Temple at Kolappad, where Suprabhatham and other devotional music are traditionally played during early morning hours, typically around 5 AM. Local sources stated that the temple committee had obtained necessary police permissions to play the devotional music and that the practice had been carried out for years in a manner described as not causing disturbance.
During the UDF celebration held after the alliance won a ward in Edavanna panchayat, slogans were raised stating that songs from temples should not be audible outside the premises and that such practices would be stopped. The slogans were raised directly in front of the Mahavishnu Temple during the procession, which displayed flags of both the Muslim League and the Congress.
Critics have pointed out that Malappuram district has numerous mosques where the azan is broadcast five times daily using loudspeakers and where religious programmes are conducted using amplified sound, including at night, yet these practices continue uninterrupted. They argue that objections are being raised specifically against Hindu temple practices while similar or louder practices at mosques face no opposition.
The fact that both Muslim League and Congress workers participated in raising these slogans suggests a collective UDF position rather than an isolated incident. With UDF currently in opposition in the Kerala Assembly, the slogans have been interpreted by critics as political messaging, indicating that if the alliance comes to power, practices such as playing devotional songs in temples could be curtailed
