There’re mysteries in this world but no miracles. Every miracle, in fact, is man-made. For, it’s only the man who’s concerned with miracles. He alone wakes up everyday hoping to see a miracle. And, that’s because life doesn’t happen the way he wants!
The cuckoo perching on the tree-top doesn’t bother about miracles. The vulture flying on the top of the sky too doesn’t. For, they’re in absolute harmony with the life that’s happened to them. Unlike man, they neither expect to hit a jackpot nor yearn for magical remedies!
This being the truth, there can’t be a bigger crime other than offering miracles to a vulnerable person who’s otherwise lost all his hopes and is desperately looking for some sort of consolation in a world that he finds cruel and merciless!
If one is to view the miracle business from this perspective, without a doubt, one can safely affirm it’s the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) which makes maximum profit by marketing the celestial light which, in fact, is produced by mortal hands!
The innumerable pilgrims who fell into TDB’s slick marketing strategy, an annual ritual, had to pay a heavy price. For, over 100 of them lost their lives after being trampled in an ugly stampede that sent shockwaves through the nation on Jan. 14 last year.
This being so, should the secrecy revolving around makaravilakku that appears on the Ponnambalamedu on the first day of Makaram – the Malayalam month – continue? Particularly, when it’s an admitted fact that there’s nothing celestial about such a light?
The question becomes relevant, because, Ponnambalamedu still continues to be a forbidden area for anyone who seeks truth, particularly the members of media fraternity. It, in fact, forms part of Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) and comes under Forest Department control.
That means anyone wanting to witness the production process of the celestial light should take its permission! Chief wildlife warden Vallyil Gopinath, however, says permission can’t be granted. “We’ve strict orders not to let anyone in”, he said.
Gopinath won’t buy the argument that the government through its candid admission has already taken off the light’s miracle element. “We need to respect popular sentiments and wouldn’t want to hurt anyone”, he maintained.
Forest guards and police personnel deployed at Ponnambalamedu may not shoot down a person entering the area, according to him. However, he’s certain to be bundled out. “We’re only going by the law of the land”, Gopinath said.
But, does the rule of the land empower forest officials to permit someone to light a fire that too in an eco-sensitive area like PTR?, wonders State general secretary Kerala Rationalists’ Association Rajagopalan Vazhathanam.
In explanation, a top forest official says it’s a ritual practiced by a particular tribal community since long and the department can’t stop them. “We can’t do much. And, we’re not the only players involved in this business”, he admitted.
Rajagopalan says successive State Governments have been going against the Constitutional principles by promoting the fallacy called celestial light. The government admission that it’s a man-made light proves it’s been a party to this falsehood, he noted.
“Article 51A (8) of Indian Constitution says it’s the State duty to promote scientific temper among people. But, the government has been going against this all these years. At least, from this year, it should back off from this business”, he demanded.
Agreeing with Rajagopal, another key forest official says there’s nothing wrong if media fraternity is permitted to visit Ponnambalamedu on the makaravilakku day. Permission, however, could be denied if the spot is inside dense forest.
“Already lakhs of pilgrims are allowed to pass through eco-sensitive region. I don’t think the heavens would fall down if a few people are permitted at Ponnambalamedu which is not a dense forest”, he revealed.
Meanwhile, Nair Service Society (NSS) general secretary G. Sukumaran Nair believes that no one should be allowed at Ponnambalamedu on the makaravilakku day. “It’s part of a Hindu ritual. No one can cite democratic privileges and breach security”, Nair reacted angrily.
CPM leader and former devaswom minister G Sudhakaran, in fact, was the one to admit that makaravilakku was man-made. However, despite his Left background, he wouldn’t take a clear stand on the issue.
“There’s a lot of sanctity around that ceremony. I won’t say anyone should be restricted from entering Ponnambalamedu. Nor would I say anyone should be let in. I can’t tell you anything more on the issue”, Sudhakaran dilly-dallied.
It’s not that the government denies permission in respect of popular sentiments. “The festival draws huge crowds and brings in substantial revenues. So, it’s only natural it doesn’t want negative publicity”, a government official quipped. He, however, felt permitting media at Ponnambalamedu won’t make any difference. “Everyone knows the light is man-made. Yet, the temple has received a record collection. So, why should there be any fear?”
That, in a way, explains that any belief including the one in makaravilakku acts like a placebo on the common man. He knows it doesn’t work miracle. Yet, he simply clings onto it as he loses nothing by hoping. That’s where miracle becomes the most-profitable business!
