Open Sabarimala shrine on all days.

The stampede at the Sabarimala shrine in which 104 pilgrims have died indicates that human life is a commodity for Rs 5-6lakh. The money that received by the family of ill-fated pilgrims says we do not value human life that much. Lack of proper schedule for the travel of people to Sabarimala is the root cause of the grave mishap.

To avoid the heavy rush at Makaravilaku season why can’t Devaswom Board make arrangement for keeping the Sabarimala temple opened all the days in a year instead limiting it to 41 days or less. Why the heap of camphor burned at Ponnambalamedu on Makaravilaku day alone? Can’t it be performed a dozen days in a year on other holy days so that pilgrims get more opportunity for a healing thought by viewing it? Again worshippers hating large crowd could also advantageously visit Sabarimala at their pace if the temple is kept opened on all days.

Sabarimala is small area and that is not meant for for huge crowd. It is located at a remote hilly place where easy accessibility is difficult. The government has not provided scientific traffic management despite the huge sum received from the pilgrims as donation and travel fare.

It is better to have an introspection for the people of Kerala than accusing one and the other.

K A Solaman
The New Indian Express dated 20 Jan 2011