Bihar temple gets its first Dalit priest

Winds of change are blowing across Paliganj. The 300-year-old the Ram Janki temple in this Bihar village, which has always had Brahmins as pujaris, is all set to get its first Dalit priest. Janardan Manjhi, who gets the honour, comes from the Musahar community.

Janardan Manjhi the priest says, “I was asked if I was from a Dalit family. I told them I was.”

"Wherever there is discrimination, we want to raise the status of those discriminated against, “Bihar State Religious Trust Administrator Kishore Kunal says.

The decision means a lot to the people of Musahar community, who are still not allowed into temples at many places in Bihar. Manjhi has become the new face of Dalit empowerment.

Former state minister Ashok Chaudhary says, “He has tried to unite society. This is a historic day for all Dalits.”

“He has been made a priest so that we can get rid of untouchability, “a villager Bachi Devi says.

The government now needs to ensure that Manjhi's anointment doesn't become another exercise in tokenism.