Kerala minister directs authorities to stop 'human blood' ritual in temple

Thiruvananthapuram: Flaying a proposed ritual at a temple near Thiruvanthapuram in Kerala which planned to use human blood, state Tourism and Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran on Wednesday directed authorities to prevent it.

In a Facebook post, Surendran said the government would not allow the move to bathe the idol with human blood at a temple in nearby Vithura.

The Minister also directed the police and district collector to take necessary steps to prevent the ritual.

He said, "it is an attempt to bring back primitive rituals and customs to Kerala society... it is not only a disgrace but also dangerous to the state." Referring to a notice issued by the Deviyod Sree Vidwayari Vaidyanandha temple committee, the Minister said it was planned to collect blood from several persons using syringes and then bathe the Kali idol.

The notice said blood would be collected using disposable syringes in a small quantity from devotees, which would be used to bathe the idol.

It was planned to be held between March 12 and 23.

Surendran also said there were complaints that the temple was a centre for various such rituals.

He further said these rituals allegedly had the support of a communal outfit and urged all sections of people to come out against such primitive customs.