The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court has issued a ban on obscene dances during Dussehra festivals. 

Court also ordered police not to provide permission to groups who are hiring dancers for the festival.

The advocate argued that no FIRs were filed against the obscene programmes during the festival and also provided video footage of the celebrations.

Judges KK Sasidharana and GR Swaminathan who heard the case, stated that the devotees were coming in the guise of gods and goddesses with religious fervour for the festival and in such a scenario, obscene dance is not acceptable. 

The court order came on August 31, 2017.

This comes after an advocate, Ramkumar Adityan of Kayamozhi near Tiruchendur, filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against such performances during Dussehra festival. 

Ramkumar told The New Indian Express that such obscene dances were slowly taking root during Dussehra festival and turning it into entertainment. 

He claimed that Hindus were not happy with this new practice and blamed police for remaining a mute spectator. 

He added that the dancers are paid high amounts and a share of the money collected from the temple, is provided to the dancers. However, it is an offering to the temple.

In the last few years, dancers including models, junior artists and TV actresses perform at the Kulasekarapattinam Mutharaman temple and dance to vulgar songs for Dussehra celebrations. 

Dussehra is a 11-day event at the temple which lasts from September 21 to October 1.