Sabarimala (Kerala), Jan 15 (IANS) A year after over
100 people died in a stampede after witnessing the 'celestial light' on
Makar Sankranti day, the ritual of 'Makarajyothi' passed off peacefully
at Kerala's Sabarimala temple this time, with pilgrims witnessing the
light thrice on Sunday evening.
Around 6.35 p.m., the first light
lit up the temple premises and nearby hillocks, which were crowded with
pilgrims, who shouted "Swami Ayyappa" with joy.
The light appeared again two more times and pilgrims were seen praying and looking up at it.
This
is the first season after the Travancore Devasom Board (TDB), the
custodian of the Sabarimala temple, last year told the Kerala High Court
that the celestial light is man-made. Despite this,pilgrims in huge
numbers were eagerly waiting for the celestial light to appear on the
horizon.
"We are not worried about whether it is man-made or
otherwise. We have come to this temple knowing its power and we are
really happy we are here on this day," said Shankar Reddy, a devotee who
came from Andhra Pradesh.
The sighting of the celestial light is
the most important event of the two-month pilgrimage dedicated to Lord
Ayyappa. According to believers, the sighting of the celestial light is
auspicious and over the last few years, there has been a huge influx of
pilgrims to witness it.
Several measures were taken by the
administration taking into account the tragedy that took place at
Pullumedu -- a hillock near the famed temple -- in which 102 pilgrims
died in a stampede soon after devotees returned witnessing the celestial
light last year.
"We had made all the arrangements for the
smooth conduct of today's ritual. Double barricades had been put in
places to ensure the crowds were controlled and regulated. More than
3,000 police officers took care of the security arrangements and
loudspeaker announcements were also made in five languages," Devasom
Minister V.S. Sivakumar said.
This season also had a fresh round
of controversy after tribesmen under the aegis of Mala Araya Samajom
claimed that it was their right to light the fire and they would march
towards the place on the hillock. More than a hundred of the Samajom
members tried to execute the march, but the police stopped them.
Later, they held a prayer and told reporters that they would not relent till their demand was met.
"It
is our right and we want it be given to us. We will continue to raise
this issue till our demand is met," said Samajom members.
The
Sabarimala temple is situated on the Western Ghats, four kilometres
uphill from Pamba in Pathanamthitta district in central Kerala. It is
one of the most famous Hindu pilgrim centres in India.