Kochi, 02 September(H.S) : Wide protest is brewing up across Kerala over the Global Ayyappa Meet being organized by the Government of Kerala on 20th September.
Petitions against the proposed meet is under the consideration of the Kerala High Court which has told all concerned that the same would come up for hearing after the Onam holidays.
Hindumatha Mahamandalam, an umbrella organization of all Sanatana Dharma followers in the State is the latest outfit to come out questioning the real intention of the CPI(M)-led Kerala Government in conducting such a Meet.
“This is the same government which ordered the police to physically assault the devotees who protested the move by the government in 2018 to allow women of shady characters to enter the sanctum sanctorum of Sabari Mala, the holy abode of Lord Ayyappa atop the Western Ghats in Pathanamthitta. Criminal cases were slapped against thousands of devotees across the State who questioned the propriety of the Government’s action,” said the Mahamandalam in a release on Tuesday.
The tradition in Sabari Mala is that women in the age group of 12-50 are not allowed to enter the precincts of the shrine as Lord Ayyappa is in the manifestation of eternal celibacy. But women devotees are allowed in all other Ayyappa Temples in the State. The Pinarayi Vijayan-led government allowed women Maoists/Urban Naxalites to enter the temple and they were provided security by deploying armed cops.
These women literally cocked a snook over the devotees and the police had to resort to lathi charge to quell the opposition. “If the Government is sincere in resolving the issue, let it withdraw all cases filed against the devotees under fake charges,” said the Mahamandalam release.
The organization, led by spiritual leaders Swami Prajnananda Theerthapadar, Swami Chidananda Puri and former Governor of Mizoram Kummanam Rajasekharan, also tore into the government move to categorize the devotees based on the amount they shell out. The Kerala Government is planning to categorize the devotees as Platinum, Gold and silver Card holders based on the amount they pay to the State. The platinum card would cost Rs three crore and in return the donors would be given free accommodation for five days a year and free entry to the sanctum sanctorum without waiting in the queue. The Gold Card costs Rs two crore and the holders are eligible to sat for three days in the shrine and hassle-free worship.
Interestingly, the accommodation available at Sabarimala is being rated very poor as it lacks even basic amenities and hygiene. The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation which has a monopoly over transporting devotees from Erumeli to Pamba ( a distance of less than 20 km) charges Rs 500 per person during the festival season.
The Ayiroor-Cherukolppuzha Hindumatha Mahamandal is the orgnizers of the 115 year old annual Sanatana Dharma Congregation on the banks of Pamba River and it attracts thousands of followers from all over the country and abroad.
The Pandalam Royal Family, the custodians of the Sabarimala shrine too has questioned the validity and legality of the Global Ayyappa Meet. To make matters worse, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is inaugurating the Meet despite him being an atheist and rationalist.
Hindusthan Samachar / Manohar Yadavatti
