ALAPPUZHA: The legality of Chooral Muriyal (breaking the cane) ritual at famous Chettikulangara Temple under the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) is now under question. The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KeSCPCR) ban on the two-and-a-half-century-old practice still stands valid. The ritual this year is to be held on March 3 as part of annual Kumbha Bharani festival. Though Hindu Matha Convention, an outfit of temple devotees, approached High Court for revoking the order, the court hasn't made its stand clear.
R Rajesh Kumar, its secretary, said they would be going ahead with the ritual as the matter is sub judice and the ritual had survived so many years. This year Rajya Sabha MP Suresh Gopi is one of the devotees making the offering. This year the temple will conduct as a many as 15 sets of Kothiyottams on the day of Kumbha Bharani. Sandhya Raju, the lawyer who handles the case in High Court, told DC the temple authorities had got no stay order so far and so the KeSCPCR order stands.
"So, if the temple authorities go ahead with the Chooral Muriyal ritual, it would be illegal. A letter would be sent to district collector in this regard," she said. Though the order came into effect on November 1 last year, the government too has not taken a position. The commission issued the order after A K Rajasree, a human rights lawyer, moved a petition.
