Thiruvananthapuram, Jan. 16: The so-called celestial Makaravilakku light in Sabarimala that evokes awe in devotees is created by officials who burn loads of camphor secretly at the Ponnambalemedu adjacent to the hill shrine and wave wet sacks over it to generate a twinkling effect.
Officials, priests and even devotees in the know prefer that this hoodwinking is not publicised among lakhs of illiterate devotees from Kerala as well as other states such as Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
The hysteric reaction of crowds to Makaravilakku was one of the reasons for the stampede that occurred on Friday killing 102 persons and the one in 1999 that killed 50 persons.
The Travancore Devaswom Board president, Mr Rajagopalan Nair, said most people knew the “truth” of the Makaravilakku and there was no need him to explain matters. “I think everyone knows what it is,” he said.
In 1990, rationalists had exposed the charade by secretly entering the heavily guarded Ponnambalemedu and photographing the act. The then Chief Minister, Mr E.K. Nayanar, also candidly admitted that it was done by Kerala State Electricity Board officials.
Almost a decade later, in 2008, the chief priest of the temple, Mr Kantararu Maheswararu, clarified that Makaravilakku was the worship of fire by tribals which coincided with Makara Sankranti.