Posted on 08/22/2002 3:31:19 AM PDT by 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 Jayalalithaas Cabinet watched on.
The childrenwho were first rendered unconsciouswere 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. Ive nothing more to say on this issue.
Perayur has been following this tradition for years. The Kuzhi maatru thiruvizhaor the festival of the pitsis 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 childs 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 dont 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.
LOL! hehehe Good one.
"Why doth the Heathen rage?"
I can only assume that means no?
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.
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.
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?
After being buried in a makeshift grave for one minute, (inset) a girl is carried out. P. Kumarapandian
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I've thought about it. You are an idiot.
Gee that article was 5 months ago. Are you a little slow on the uptake?
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