Today (November 16) is the beginning of the Malayalam month Virshchikam, when Mandala season, which marks the beginning of pilgrimage to Sabarimala begins. Once, it used to be the beginning of a holy season, when the atmosphere in Kerala would suddenly transform from mundane to spiritual. The sound of prayers and smell of incense would fill the air. People would wake up in the morning and light lamps in the prayer rooms in their homes; some would abstain from non vegetarian food as they begin observance for Sabarimala pilgrimage. However, this has started disappearing from Kerala slowly.
It isn’t simply the repeated floods and heavy rains that are changing the habits of the Hindus. The Sabarimala temple which is one of the most important temples in India has become a tinderbox since 2018. Huge police deployment and tension created in the area have distanced a section of pilgrims from the temple. Deliberate intervention and use of force by the left government in Sabarimala to implement a supreme court order allowing women of all ages entry in the temple and its fallout have destroyed the peaceful atmosphere in Sabarimala. There are reasons to believe that it was an organised attempt by certain groups to change Sabarimala, where Hindus of all castes and even believers from other religions were permitted entry for hundreds of years.
Changing Sabarimala means transforming Kerala society as the temple has a huge influence on Kerala society. Hindus are blissfully unaware of such happenings and dismiss such conclusions as conspiracy theories. Let’s study our society and rituals and take cognizance of the attempts to change it. Let’s be informed. Information is the only weapon to defend us.
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