Attukal Pongala: Blog misleading, says temple trust

Thiruvananthapuram: Attukal Bhagavathy Temple Trust president V Chandrasekhara Pillai said that DGP Sreelekha’s blog likening ‘kuthiyottam’ to animal sacrifice was "untimely and misleading". “The ritual has been going on for years and till now there has never been an issue,” Mr Pillai said. “Even the High Court had emphatically stated that it could not intervene to stop the custom,” he added.

Mr Pillai said that the charge that the children (boys below the age of 11 take part in the seven-day penance) were subjected to torture was nothing but fear-mongering. “There is no flesh piercing as is made out, but just a symbolic representation of that. A hook-like instrument is used to make a small hole at the top layer of the skin of the child. The child will never be in pain,” he said. Further, he said that the temple does not force any child to take part in the ritual.

“In fact, the parents are briefed clearly about what the children have to do during the period,” Mr Pillai said. According to lore, these boys who opt for the penance, represent the wounded soldiers of the Goddess Mahishasura Marddini. During their seven-day penance they have to stay in the temple and undergo rigorous physical and mental discipline; the boys will sleep on the floor and will observe strict diet restrictions. They will also have to prostrate 1008 times before the deity after their morning and evening oblations. “Now, the hall in which these boys sleep have been air-conditioned,” the trust president said. This year, 993 children are taking part in the ‘kuthiyottam’ ritual.