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 Rajagopalan Nair told this newspaper that most people knew the “truth” of the Makaravilakku and there was no need to explain the matters.
In 1990, rationalists had exposed the charade by secretly entering the heavily guarded Ponnambalemedu and photographing the act. The then chief minister, E.K. Nayanar, also candidly admitted that it was done by Kerala State Electricity Board officials.
Almost a decade later, in 2008, the controversy erupted again and the chief priest of the temple, Mr Kantararu Maheswararu, clarified that Makaravilakku was the worship of fire by tribals which coincided with Makar Sankranti. However, the fact remains tribals don’t undertake the ritual anymore and it is government officials who do it. And the secret is not far to search — the pilgrim centre earns the government hundreds of crores of rupees and fanning the flames of gullibility is the best way to ensure that the cash continues to flow.
“It is fraud of the highest kind that misleads poor devotees and trivialises faith,” said Mr Venganoor Balakrishnan, who has authored dozens of books on Hindu rituals.
When pointed out that the TDB had the moral duty to explain matters to prevent crowd hysteria in the future, Mr Nair said: “I will have to think it over whether we should declare it officially.”
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Sabarimala tragedy probe begins
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan. 16: The probe by crime branch wing of the Kerala police to ascertain the cause for the Sabarimala stampede that claimed 102 lives, began on Sunday.
Crime branch officials visited the accident spot and took evidences. Forensic experts also visited Pullmedu area where the mishap occurred on Friday, officials said.
Besides, the crime branch probe, the Kerala government had also decided to hold a judicial inquiry into the mishap that occurred when over 100 people returning from the shrine were killed when a jeep went out of control. —PTI