Members of the erstwhile royal family of Travancore stayed away from an event to mark the 87th anniversary of the Temple Entry Proclamation, following a massive outcry against the leaflets describing them as “queens” and use of salutations once reserved for royals.

Gauri Parvathi Bai and Gauri Lakshmi Bai, who were scheduled to attend the event and light the ceremonial lamp, stayed away owing to some unknown indisposition.

The event, organised by the Travancore Devaswom Board that governs Hindu temples in southern Kerala, was to mark the Temple Entry Proclamation signed by the then Maharaja Sree Chitra Thirunal Balarama Varma on November 12, 1936.

Travancore Devaswom Board president K. Ananthagopan told reporters on Monday that the two sisters reported “indisposed” and hence chose to stay away from the event.

G. Madhusoodhanan Nair, director (cultural and archeology) of the board, also skipped the event since it was he who released the leaflet that credited Balarama Varma for the Temple Entry Proclamation and described his two descendants as “HH” (for Her Highness) and “queens”.