105 Children Buried Alive In Indian Temple Ritual

The Indian Express ^ | August 22, 2002 | S. Pandian

[Red Jones]

105 kids ‘buried’ for a minute, TN Minister watches

Parents take part in shocking temple ritual

S Pandian

Madurai, August 21: At least 105 children were ‘‘buried’’ alive for ‘‘just one minute’ in Perayur village, 46 kms from Madurai, on Wednesday to propitiate two female deities even as a minister from Jayalalithaa’s Cabinet watched on.

The children—who were first rendered unconscious—were sunk into makeshift graves, covered completely, kept there for 60 seconds and then pulled out. All this under the benign gaze of state Minister for Housing and Urban Development, C Durairaj.

After being ‘buried’ in a makeshift grave for ‘one minute’, (inset) a girl is carried out. P. Kumarapandian

Durairaj, who hails from the region and who was the chief guest at the function conducted in the name of goddesses Muthukuzhi Mariamman and Kaliamman, told The Indian Express: ‘‘I witnessed the festival at the invitation of the community which organised it. I’ve nothing more to say on this issue.’’

Perayur has been following this tradition for years. The Kuzhi maatru thiruvizha—or the festival of the pits—is observed every five-seven years. The last time the media landed up to cover this event in 1996, violence broke out.

All villagers participate in the ritual, ‘‘burying’’ their children in the hope that their wishes will be granted. Only pre-pubescent girls are chosen for the ritual, while no such condition is imposed in the case of boys. Those in the age group of four to twenty years can ‘‘participate’’ in this ritual.

Family members first sprinkle ash on the child’s head and then spray his or her face with turmeric water, after which the child falls ‘‘unconscious’’.

If the child fails to do so, the ‘‘burial’’ is cancelled and the family fined a thousand rupees. In fact, pit diggers ensure that the children are ‘‘exhausted’’ enough so that they don’t try and wriggle out.

The child is then wrapped in a yellow cloth and taken to the burial ground in front of the temple. After the child is ‘‘buried,’’ his or her parents break a coconut and offer prayers. The entire episode lasts for a minute, after which the priest signals for the pit to be opened. The cloth around the head is unwrapped and the child is taken away by his or her relatives.

Kaliraj, former president of the Perayur Town panchayat, says there has never been any untoward incidents till now.

The next thiruvizha will be held after seven years.

[lepton]

How so? Can you be more specific?

LOL! hehehe Good one.

[tet68]

No sense trying to talk logic with "believers".( Of ANY religious cult ! )

"Why doth the Heathen rage?"

[Kerberos]

"LOL! hehehe Good one. "

I can only assume that means no?

[Kerberos]

"No sense trying to talk logic with "believers".( Of ANY religious cult ! ) "

I remember several years back, when it was a big issue in the media about religious cults that were supposedly brainwashing people, one of the organization that specialized in retrieving people put out a pamphlet as to how to identify a cult.

As I was reading through several of the points or attributes of a cult, i.e. charismatic leader, emphasis on recruitment of new followers, importance of giving money, etc. I remember thinking that shoot, this could describe about any mainstream church that I have ever been in.

[Consort]

After seeing all these religious threads, sin is looking better and better all the time.

[MEGoody]

Ah, I see you base your example on the Catholic tradition rather than scripture. For those who follow scripture rather than traditions, baptism is symbolic and doesn't 'get' you anything. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ. Baptism follows as a symbol of being washed clean of our sin. Oh, and by the way, we don't have to knock kids out to get them to get baptised, and we don't hold them under for 60 seconds.

[Kerberos]

"Ah, I see you base your example on the Catholic tradition rather than scripture. "

Actually no, it was based on the southern baptist tradition. But then again, there are so many that it is hard to tell which one is being discussed.

[Red Jones]

the original title of the story in Indian Express did not lead you to believe they died, but the Drudge report title was the one I used, because I thought Drudge's title was more fun.

Like you said, you can find anything in India. In India some journalists come up with outrageous articles and article titles for the sake of having fun and getting attention. I like that style. That is how the stories about monkey-men riding motorcycles got started.

[lepton]

I can only assume that means no?

Or you can note the irony in asking me to be more specific about your vagueries. :)

You don't think contributions to SSI fit your description about as closely as the both of the examples you used?

[Kerberos]

You make absolutely no sense. Are you capable of getting to the point or must you continually talk around the issue. Or could it be that you just don’t have a point?

[schwabk]

There is no Christian Scripture. What!! The Gospals. You are following the Gospals--what a joke! There are over 20,000 errors as documented by your own Christian scholors. they are man made books. What scriptures do you have. Jesus is the son of God ---ya right!!

[Redcloak]

Can't ya just smell the diversity...

After being ‘buried’ in a makeshift grave for ‘one minute’, (inset) a girl is carried out. P. Kumarapandian

[martin gibson]

When you think about it this isn't that much different than some christian rituals such as say baptism.

I've thought about it. You are an idiot.

[Kerberos]

"I've thought about it. You are an idiot. "

Gee that article was 5 months ago. Are you a little slow on the uptake?