THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights has taken a suo motu case against the flesh piercing ritual done on children below the age of 12 as part of ‘Kuthiyottam’ penance observed during Attukal Pongala festivities. The Commission has asked the government to provide information on temples in South Kerala that conduct ‘Kuthiy-ottam’, and also the rituals associated with the custom in these temples.
“On the basis of this information, the Commission will examine whether there are any violation of child rights as part of the ritual,” the Commission said in an official statement here. There are two aspects of the ritual that will be probed for child right violations. One, the flesh-piercing ritual where the skin of a boy on the side of his ribs is pinched, and a silver hook with a pointed end is pierced through it. The hook, which many charge is not properly sterilised, will be left on the child for a day. Two, the boys will be part of a procession on the evening of Pongala day (March 2) that would return to the temple only the next day. The charge is that during the procession the boys will be deprived of sleep and would also be prevented from answering even nature’s call. 993 children will take part in the ‘kuthiyottam’ ritual this year.
The Commission had earlier banned ‘chooral muriyal’, a similar but more painful ritual, at the Chettikulangara Devi Temple in Alappuzha. Despite the stricture, the ritual was held this year.
