Forest shrine in Kerala performs animal sacrifice

Without any formal complaint or court order, the local police failed to stop it

In a shock to Kerala's progressive image, banned practice of animal sacrifice has been reported from two small temples located in the forest close to tourist hill station Ponmudi in the district.

The public came to know about the horrifying act after a local channel recently aired the visuals of goats being beheaded by the poojari (priest) and spilling the blood of the sacrificial animal at the idols of the shrines worshipped mostly by tribal communities.

Nearly a dozen goats were sacrificed at the Karuppa Swamy temples, located in the forests, last week.

The act was performed as offering to the tribal deity to fulfil wishes.

Devotees, especially migrant estate workers from Tamil Nadu in the area, believe that the ritual would bring prosperity to people.

Local people alleged that some policemen were present at the site when the gory ritual was performed.

A police officer at the Ponmudi station said the ritual had been practised by migrant workers from Tamil Nadu, who used to come for work in estates and return home to their native place, years ago.

"It is a ritual being practised in some temples in rural Tamil Nadu. Though the workers returned to their land years ago from the estates, they keep coming here every year and perform the ritual," the officer told PTI.

The sacrifice was preceded by 'thullal'(ceremonial dance) and the beating of drums. Later they behead the goats and cook its meat at the spot itself and serve to the devotees, he said.

As nobody had formally objected to the act or no court order was placed against it, the local police had not attempted to stop it these years, he said.

Though the act was prevented from being photographed or videographed, the channel reporter managed to take the visuals when it was practised last week.

Based on the report, a police inquiry had been ordered to find out the details and take necessary action, sources said.