Sabarimala season

This is the Sabarimala Season... the whole state is filled with devotees from all walks of life, who have taken their 'vratham' to visit the holy shrine of Lord Aiyappa. The cold, windy dawns do not deter them from their mission, and temples are filled with the cries of 'Swamiye.. Sharanamayyappa', right from dawn. May God bless us all!

The Aravana Payasam seems to be this years focal point with the non-availability of cans to dispense it among the devotees. Television screens are full of images of the devotees standing in serpentine queues, holding whatever utensil or plastic bottles they could lay their hands on, waiting for their quota of the prasadam. very frankly, seeing them put all their fingers into the measuring can of the prasadam counter, to get out every drop of the prasadam into their vessels, was quite disgusting. I do hope the authorities would do something to maintain hygene with regards to distribution of the Payasam.

another amusing news which came out was how the prices of ordinary utensils and plastic bottles have gone up after the non-availability of the regular cans, for dispensing the aravana. just proves the ago-old policy of 'make hay while the sun shines' .

just yesterday i came upon a news item which said how the employees of sabarimala temple, who count the money in the hundials or bhannarams are treated inhumanly. seems they have to strip naked before their higher authorities, after counting the money and leaving the room. that is indeed a repulsive thing. It can obviously demoralise anybody, and it seems most of them have started protesting against this age-old custom. in this age of technology, i wish the authorities would open their eyes, and avail of some other scientific techniques of preventing pilferage and theft, instead of resorting to this inhuman act!