Man-made disasters can't alter beliefs: Pilgrims

Sabarimala stampede: People react to reports that Makara Vilakku was not divine phenomenon

Such unflinching faith in Lord Ayyappa was echoed by many Sabarimala “swamis” who are being treated at Government Medical College Hospital here after sustaining injuries in the “Makara Vilakku” stampede at Pulmedu.

“The lord is not at fault. It is the people who take care of him who should take the blame for the tragedy,” said Gajendran, 50, covering up the pain that his broken ribs have been giving him ever since it took the impact of the surging crowd on the fateful evening of January 14.

This labourer from Thiruvattar, who was visiting Sabarimala for the fourth time, was reacting to news reports that “Makara Vilakku” was not a divine phenomenon but was lit by people.

“I am not sure whether to believe it or not. But what I am sure of is that the Kerala authorities need to provide better facilities to pilgrims especially when they are getting so much money from them (pilgrims),” he told Deccan Herald at the ward where he and his friends were admitted to on Sunday.

However, Gunasekharan, 38, another injured swami who works with Bailey Hydroelectric, Chennai, said the “Makara Vilakku” this time around was not seen from last year’s spot. “We noticed that its position had come down and it was blurred, too,” he said.

Gunasekharan, who has pain in his chest and swellings on his limbs, keeps getting
anxious calls from his wife and son in Chennai. He, however, assured  them that things were under control.

Both Gajendran and Gunasekharan were part of the 22 injured pilgrims admitted to Theni Hospital under instructions from the Tamil Nadu government. Several of them have already  been discharged with the advice for followup treatment.

Art of fleecing

Gunasekharan reveals that the vantage spot at Pulmedu for viewing Makaravilakku had the looks of a non-man’s land. There were no lights and a few policemen around to control about two lakh people.

“Pilgrims begin running down soon after viewing the light so that they can reach the jeeps parked over 2 km away. The jeeps will take them to Vandiperiyar, another 26 km away where their vehicles are parked,’’ he said.

According to Subramanyan, another member of the group, the jeeps make a killing out of transporting pilgrims between Vandiperiyar and Pulmedu during January 13-14 every year.  “They charge at least Rs 500 per person. So you can imagine the money they make out of a trip if they stuff 10 or more people in,” he said.

Gajendran doubts whether he will be fit enough to undertake hard labour when he reaches home, which would put a question mark on his earnings. Both Gajendran and Gunasekharan have lost one member each from their groups which went to Pulmedu — Ramalingam of Cuddalore and Dharani of Thiruvattar. They will not go to Pulmedu next time, but nothing will stop them from undertaking the pilgrimage to Sabarimala.

“Make no mistake, many of these people were chanting Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa when they were dying or gasping for breathe,” they claimed.