Chatsworth market Hindu traders oppose municipality's order to remove sacred puthu

HINDU stall owners at a Chatsworth market are furious over a notice from the eThekwini Municipality instructing them to stop performing rituals at a prayer site and to destroy the puthu (a sacred mound) that was formed at the market in 2022.

- YOSHINI PERUMAL [e-mail]

The notice, addressed to traders, was issued by the eThekwini Municipality Business Support Tourism and Markets Unit.

It was put up at the entrance of the Fragrance Street Market in Croftdene last Thursday and ordered the stall owners to stop performing rituals at the prayer site and to remove the puthu.

"It has come to our attention that there are traders belonging to a particular conviction who are conducting religious rituals openly at the Fragrance Street Market.

"You are reminded that any religious rituals of any kind are prohibited in public spaces. For any religious ritual to be done in the market as a once-off practice, would need permission from our office.

"Traders belonging to different convictions are therefore requested to refrain from such practice. Should there be any ritual sculptures of some kind placed openly in the market, please remove them immediately," the notice read.

Keith Pillay, provincial representative of the South African Informal Traders Forum, said the matter was referred to their legal team, who were in the process of engaging with the municipality.

"We are concerned about the call from the municipality for the removal of what they referred to as 'ritual sculptures' from the Fragrance Street Market.

"The puthu will not be removed at this stage. The matter has been referred to our legal team, who are preparing a formal response to the municipality. We do not support their blanket approach to religious expression in public spaces," he added.

Pillay said while the Constitution guaranteed the right to freedom of religion, belief, and cultural practice, any attempt to suppress these rights must be approached with caution.

"Suppressing the rights of people, especially when directed at specific communities or belief systems, must be approached with extreme caution and must pass constitutional muster.