Kerala: Kani tribals vow to block eves' trek to Agasthya hills

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kani tribals have vowed to block women if they attempt to climb the Agasthya hills as part of the annual 26-kilometre trek up the mountain peak.  This is in protest against  the  decision of the forest department to allow women to take part in the ritual.

“During the 42-day period between Makarasankranthi (January 24) and Shivarathri (February 24), even our women are not allowed to go near the shrine of Agasthya Muni. The decision of the government to allow women near the peak can be seen only as an attempt to undermine tribal beliefs and customs,” said Mr Mohanan Triveni,  president of Agasthyakoodam Kshethra Kanikkar Trust. “This will be fought at any cost,” he added.

The Kani community is also exploring legal options to restore the ban on women. “The Forest Rights Act has guaranteed the protection of tribal rituals and beliefs,” Mr Triveni said. He, along with six tribal representatives, was present during the meeting convened by Forest Minister K. Raju to discuss the issue of women’s participation in the Agasthyakoodam trek on Tuesday.

“We were shocked at the manner in which the forest secretary (additional chief secretary P. Mara Pandian) talked to us,” Mr Triveni said. “He told us that  the tribals had sullied the forest interiors by littering the area  with liquor bottles,” he said.

According to him, Mr Mara Pandian even urged the women to climb the hill on Sivarathri day itself, the last day of the Kani holy season when the most important ritual is held. “Fortunately, forest officials present at the meeting objected to this and  convinced the minister that it would hurt Kani sentiments if women go up  that day,” Mr Triveni said.

The  minister tried to evolve a consensus. He told the women to keep the Athirumala base camp as the last point of their trek. The base camp is just three kilometres  from the peak and is the point beyond which even Kani women are prohibited. “But the women insisted on climbing till the point where men were allowed,” Mr Triveni said.

He said the Kani sentiment should not be misunderstood as discrimination. “Tribals have historically stood for gender equality. This restriction on entry is applicable only for a small area and for a short period,” he said.