Sabarimala pilgrims can’t bathe in trains: Southern Railway
By Express News Service - COIMBATORE / ERODE
12th December 2012 08:15 AM
Pilgrims travelling to Sabarimala by train cannot bathe inside the compartments as part of their daily ritual, the Southern Railway said on Tuesday.
“The water provided in coaches is meant for hand wash and toilet use only…Therefore, Sabarimala devotees should ... understand that the water supply provided in coaches is not for bathing purpose at all,” a press statement issued by the Southern Railway Salem Division Manager said.
The statement comes in the backdrop of Monday’s protest by Sabarimala pilgrims on board Tatanagar-Alleppey Express at Erode. The pilgrims, who were upset over non-availability of water on the coach, had pulled the chain and staged a protest.
Denying that the situation was caused by mismanagement, the Railway pointed out that such problems did not arise during peak festive seasons like Deepavali, New Year or Pongal. “Every rail coach consists of four water tanks of 400 litres capacity each. This level of water is more than sufficient to take care of (hand wash and toilet) needs. However, this water is used for bathing by the Ayyappa devotees and the tanks tend to empty within the shortest time,” the statement said.
The Railway also said that a large number of pilgrims tend to take bath at the waiting rooms as well. Frequent power cuts have made it difficult to pump water for use in waiting halls.
The statement said some devotees light camphor in the compartments during their morning prayers risking passengers’ lives.
Coimbatore-based Ayyappa devotee Manikandan, a Gurusamy who has undertaken 22 annual pilgrimages, suggested a way out. “It is not necessary for devotees to take bath daily when they are travelling. It is enough to do ‘prokshanam’ (sprinkle water on self) and then offer ‘sharanam’ (prayers).”
He added that camphor can be lit on the station platform and immediately doused. “The practicalities also have to be considered as God Himself does not warrant any inconvenience to anybody under the pretext of devotion,” he said.
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Comments(7)
Sabarimala Pilgrimage is nothing but a fashion show. All a complete scam and nonsense
Posted by Onlooker at 12/12/2012 09:05 Reply to this Report abuse
Really? A fashion show? Did you study the movement for decades and evaluate its impact and contribution to individual discipline and morality in south India? Did you evaluate its impact in undoing the groupism being promoted by christians? Did you evaluate its impact in reviving the Hindu self-confidence which was trampled by the missionary-sponsored Dravidian hate movements? Or is this statement because you are among those against the interests of this country its native ethos and social fabric?
Posted by Kumaran at 12/12/2012 10:00 Reply to this Report abuse
Very well said Mr. Kumaran, The ethos of the country is in Hinduism. And the problems are man-made, short sightedness from our adversaries.
Posted by santosh at 12/12/2012 12:00 Reply to this Report abuse
Devotees will lead a disciplined life for 40 days. Up to this is OK. However, immediately after coming back from Sabari, 95%-98% of these devotees go back to their routine(which is not routine for 90% of the population).Makara Jyothi itself is not a miracle by GOD.This was agreed by the TRUST itself.
Posted by Dr.Srinivasa Varma at 12/12/2012 13:52 Reply to this Report abuse
Look,all th devotees have been in 41 days of strict viradham n thy follow therir own ways of their v shouldnt critize thm its a sin v do fr ourself...And Dr srinivas pl don tell anythn without knwn it...can u prove wit 100% fact tat its nt a mirace... wen did th trust say tat its nt a miracle can u pl explan... its 100% gods miracle happennin fr years.....
Posted by pramod at 12/17/2012 18:45 Report abuse
what is your problem Dr Srinivas Varma ? if you dont like do not like and please do not comment on the faith and trust of the crores of Swamy Ayyappa devotees. it is totally unfair from you. please take back your comemnts. See doctor atlease devotees are with dicipline in their life for 41 days due to our swamy Ayyappa. others could not able to think positively atleast one day. see in your comment itself you are telling the negatives and you could not see the positives out of the 41 days Deesha. my humble request to doctor saab is not to comemnt negatively see the world with positive attitude. then you will see the Swamy Ayyaappa mahatyam in your life.
Posted by Hymakar at 12/27/2012 12:17 Report abuse
so what even if makara jyothi is not a miracle. this jyothi is nothing but a matter of several million devotees faith in lord ayyappa. and there are several examples in our mythology as well as in history that when faith becomes so strong then how it becomes miracle. and as far as going back to routine life after 41 days is concerned i make you clear that no god had asked to become life long sanyasi for him. we are just devoting 41 days of an year to the god so that our rest of life we can enjoy and all our desires come true. bcoz even if we do only one act in favor of god and society we will definitely be geting reward from the god.
Posted by Dr. Manish kumar. at 12/19/2012 13:43 Reply to this Report abuse