Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

105 Children Buried Alive In Indian Temple Ritual
The Indian Express ^ | August 22, 2002 | S. Pandian

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 Jayalalithaa’s Cabinet watched on.

The children—who were first rendered unconscious—were 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. I’ve nothing more to say on this issue.’’

Perayur has been following this tradition for years. The Kuzhi maatru thiruvizha—or the festival of the pits—is 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 child’s 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 don’t 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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: christianity; freedomofreligion; hindu
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-34 next last
you know I really like the Indian people. I think the US should court India as a friend. But the christian religion is superior to the hindu religion. The hindu religion is a religion of idol worship. And I mean idol worship in the christian sense, not the hindu sense. By idol worship I mean that they are inventing gods and worshiping them.

If the compassionate liberals and multi-culturalists have their way, then it will be against the law to say these things. Hallowed be the name of Jesus Christ. And I thank god that he made the US a christian nation.

1 posted on 08/22/2002 3:31:19 AM PDT by Red Jones
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Red Jones
What a lovely little ceremony. Bury your kid and some non-existent, little-"g"-god will bless you after you break a coconut.

I think they'd have just as much luck taking the village's adults, shaving their heads, and setting their pubic hair on fire.

Only for a minute, of course..............

2 posted on 08/22/2002 3:40:30 AM PDT by RightOnline
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Jones
But the christian religion is superior to the hindu religion. The hindu religion is a religion of idol worship.

Agreed, Hinduism is idolatry. But Hindus are superior to the Allah-worshipping cult of murder.

3 posted on 08/22/2002 3:49:15 AM PDT by Alouette
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Jones
When you think about it this isn't that much different than some christian rituals such as say baptism.
4 posted on 08/22/2002 4:05:33 AM PDT by Kerberos
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kerberos
When you think about it this isn't that much different than some christian rituals such as say baptism.

How so? You'll need to further explain your illogical statement.

5 posted on 08/22/2002 4:33:22 AM PDT by EverOnward
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Red Jones
There is much darkness in the world. The light of the true gospel of Jesus Christ is the ONLY answer.
6 posted on 08/22/2002 4:49:54 AM PDT by aardvark1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Jones
Add this to the donkey wedding and the mouse/rat temple and you get just one conclusion:

Friggin' pagan savages.

7 posted on 08/22/2002 4:54:40 AM PDT by Petronski
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AM2000; swarthyguy
Bump
8 posted on 08/22/2002 5:00:33 AM PDT by Incorrigible
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #9 Removed by Moderator

To: EverOnward
Kerberos wrote: "When you think about it this isn't that much different than some christian rituals such as say baptism."

EverOnward wrote: "How so? You'll need to further explain your illogical statement."

There is nothing illogical about my statement, but since you seem to be having problems grasping it, I will endeavor to break it down into more simplistic terms.

Both activities are rituals that participants believe that by taking part in they will receive some future benefit. One takes a child, knocks them out, and buries them in the ground for 60 seconds under the belief that by doing so they will be granted a wish. The other takes a child and dunks them under the water for a couple of seconds in the belief that this will insure their eternal salvation.

Do you not see that although the method may be somewhat different in the two rituals, the underlying form is the same? From an outsiders perspective the only thing that is of concern here is whether someone is harmed in the ritual, as in the case of some satanic rituals. Apparently in both instances no one incurs actual physical damage so therefore outside of the oddity of both rituals, it is of little concern or interest.

10 posted on 08/22/2002 5:51:37 AM PDT by Kerberos
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Red Jones
I just want to know who decided to fine the family a thousand rupees if the kid isn't unconscious when he or she is buried...

This whole ritual sounds like a Monty Python skit;

"I'm not unconscious yet."

"Shhh! You will be soon, so be quiet."

11 posted on 08/22/2002 5:53:39 AM PDT by Exeter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Jones
Don't let the NEA hear about this. They'll be mandating it in all the schools. Along with "burkha fashions" day.
12 posted on 08/22/2002 5:57:03 AM PDT by Aquinasfan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Jones
Was anybody harmed? If not, what's the problem?
13 posted on 08/22/2002 6:11:11 AM PDT by tictoc
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Jones
More Islam propaganda.
This is the exact equivalent of burning Jewish schoolchildren to a crisp on a school bus.

Right.

What morons...

14 posted on 08/22/2002 6:20:39 AM PDT by Publius6961
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Religion is just messed up...

When will conscious humans wake up and realize this type of stuff is totally worthless and useless...

15 posted on 08/22/2002 6:24:20 AM PDT by Ferris
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Jones
Me think these people need to repent their sins instead of practicing prosecuting rituals. As for baptism, the idea is one of immunizing from prosecution, not at all like the demands shown here.
16 posted on 08/22/2002 6:40:50 AM PDT by lavaroise
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kerberos
Both activities are rituals that participants believe that by taking part in they will receive some future benefit. One takes a child, knocks them out, and buries them in the ground for 60 seconds under the belief that by doing so they will be granted a wish. The other takes a child and dunks them under the water for a couple of seconds in the belief that this will insure their eternal salvation.

Do you not see that although the method may be somewhat different in the two rituals, the underlying form is the same? From an outsiders perspective the only thing that is of concern here is whether someone is harmed in the ritual, as in the case of some satanic rituals. Apparently in both instances no one incurs actual physical damage so therefore outside of the oddity of both rituals, it is of little concern or interest.

Your example is so broad that it would work as well in the instance of paying Social Security taxes.

17 posted on 08/22/2002 6:41:00 AM PDT by lepton
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: lepton
"Your example is so broad that it would work as well in the instance of paying Social Security taxes."

How so? Can you be more specific?

18 posted on 08/22/2002 7:32:04 AM PDT by Kerberos
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: RightOnline
Bffffttt!!! (Cleaning juice off my screen) Thanks for the first snicker of the day!

I'm really getting tired of the barbarians. I used to think the Crusades were all bad.
19 posted on 08/22/2002 7:58:25 AM PDT by Technocrat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Kerberos
Actually, you're closer than you think. For some Hindus, a ceremony to honor the occassion of a boy growing into manhood, say around 13 or so, involves taking a dip in a river with a priest conducting the ceremony. He grabs the boys head and dunks it in the water for a bit....pulls him out...

Of course, with a country of 1 billion people, one can find anything. At first i thought they buried them alive and left them there to die.
20 posted on 08/22/2002 8:48:00 AM PDT by swarthyguy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-34 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson