The famous Attukal Pongala festival, which found its name in the Guinness Book of World Records, is now facing a serious controversy this year after IPS officer R Sreelekha openly criticised one of the rituals called ‘Kuthiyottam”. In a major development today, the Kerala State Child Rights Commission has taken up the issue.
Sreelekha criticised the ritual on her blog and termed the ‘Kuthiyottam’ ceremony, as a ‘cruelty towards kids’. She also alleged that the ritual is followed without making the children aware of the piercing. She further said that causing physical and mental stress to children are offences that come under sections 89, 319, 320, 349, 350, 351 of Indian Penal Code (IPC). According to her the Juvenile Justice Act and the Child Welfare Commission Act penalises it.
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The officer also mentioned that she is also a believer who had offered Pongala. But now she has decided that she will not be offering a Pongala from now onwards unless an action is taken to stop the ritual from happening.
It must be noted that ‘Kuthiyottam’ is a ceremonial ritual offered by the devotees where young children below the age of 9 have to stay in the temple for 7 days. They have to follow intense mental and physical discipline during these 7 days and on the last day of the festival, the children will be dressed up as soldiers and their bodies will be pierced with little metal hooks.
According to the temple authorities, Kuthiyottam depicts these children as the Goddess’ soldiers and cannot be stopped all of a sudden as it has been conducted for many years.
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