ALAPPUZHA: The Sreedevi Vilasam Hindu Matha convention, a devotee outfit backed by the RSS, is set to conduct 'Chooral Muriyal' ritual at Chettikulanagara temple as part of the 10-day Kumba Bharani festival to be kicked off on Tuesday.
This is defying the ban imposed by the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KeSCPCR) in November 2016 on the regressive practice that abuses children. The High Court had also upheld the ban order. The Bharani festival falls on February 22 and at least 24 children would be subjected to the ritual on that day.
As per rules, children below 8 bought from underprivileged families are used for the ritual.
Either side of the midrib of the child is pierced with a needle and golden strands are inserted by an Asan (master). The children are made to walk to the temple accompanied by cheering devotees and a cacophony of flute and slogans on the day of Bharani festival. When they reach the temple, the elders pull out the string from the bleeding fissures and offer it to the temple.
The KeSCPCR had banned the ritual following a complaint registered by an Alappuzha-based lawyer citing child rights violations. However, the temple conducted the ritual last year as well.
V. Madhu, an Asan, who conducts 'Kuttiyottams' (run by children) said on Wednesday that he had bought two children for the purpose spending Rs 1 lakh for ten days. One child is a seven-year-old from Chennithala and another from Thrikkariyoor, Eranakulam district.
"We will take the child from Chennithala to Thrikkariyoor where the person who offers Kuttiyottam stays. The children will be taken off school from Tuesday toWednesday and they will not be allowed to go outside the house. On the Bharani day, the children will be taken back to Chettikulangara in a bus with a group and subjected to the ritual in public. "This is a modernised version of Narabali (human sacrifice). The legend says the temple had practised 'Narabali' in the 12th century. We can't stop the modern practice as nothing can be an alternative to a human being," he said.
He said the rate for a child could go up to Rs 1 lakh and parents, mostly from underprivileged families, accept the money for the future of the family.
