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Sabarimala: A video of devotees thronging Kerala’s Sabarimala temple during Makaravilakku — an annual festival held at the shrine on Makar Sankranti — has caused some heartburn among social media users.
The video, posted by news agency ANI, shows police personnel lining the temple’s sacred staircase, pushing and pulling devotees as they climb up. The visuals led some social media users to allege the devotees were being mistreated and manhandled, and accusing the administration of failing to make proper preparations year after year.
#WATCH | Kerala: Devotees throng Sabarimala Temple in large numbers to offer prayers to Lord Ayyappa on the occasion of Makaravilakku festival. pic.twitter.com/2Sf9DNJCPk
— ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2025
However, some other social media users intervened to say the visuals were being misinterpreted, and attributed the misunderstanding to the critics’ lack of awareness about the ground situation.
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What Are The Allegations?
Commenting on ANI’s X post, one user asked, “Why these devotees treated like this (sic)? They get a full year to improve facilities but won’t do.” Another said the video looked “brutal”. “They r devotees, give some respect. Will they teat (sic) in a similar manner if there will be VIP movement?” the user added.
A third user said the “way they are treating devotees is demeaning”. “They should’ve done better preparations,” they added, while another noted that this “is not the only temple where such devotees are being treated”. “There are many big temples in India where such things happen but what is the solution for this?” the user asked.
One user said the police were “pulling and pushing devotees as if they are controlling herd”. “This is shameful way of treating human being,” they added.
‘Crowd Control’
Starting their post with “Swami Saranam”, a chant invoked by devotees of Lord Ayyappa, one user said the stairs seen in the video are narrow. “Do not misunderstand that police are mistreating devotees,” the user noted, adding that the rush at the temple was likely 10-times higher than usual on Tuesday because of Makaravilakku.
“During non-rush hours you can climb up easily no rush,” the user added.
Another user said those who were alleging brutality “know nothing about Ayappan culture”. The user pointed to the belief among some devotees that the ‘Pathinettampadi’ — or the 18 steps to the sanctum sanctorum — represent the 18 puranas.
“…Also these steps are so narrow and its hard to climb.. to avoid rush at the entry they are pulling them up…” the user noted.
The temple website also has a section explaining the significance of the 18 steps. “The number 18 has a unique position and significance within Sanatana Dharma — Puranas are eighteen in number, the no of Chapters in Bhagavad-Gita are eighteen, The great epic Mahabharatha has Eighteen chapters. The army in the Mahabharatha Was were Eighteen Akshauhinis and lasted for eighteen Days (sic),” it says. “Sabarimala is surrounded by eighteen Hills, and one must climb eighteen steps to reach the Sannidhanam (shrine) — though allowed with Devotees who observe the Deeksha,” it adds, noting that the 18 steps “resemble the five Panchendriyas or the five sense organs (Eyes, Ears, Nose, Skin, Mouth) Ashtaragas or eight unsolicited habits – (Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada, Matsarya Asuya, Dhumb) the next three are symbolic representation of the Trigunas (Satva, Rajas & Tamas)”.
According to a Times of India report, as many as 1.5 lakh pilgrims were expected to arrive at the Sabarimala temple on Tuesday.
