Saturday, January 15, 2011

Another black January 14 for Sabarimala pilgrims

The mishap at Pulmedu in Vandiperiyar in Kerala's remote Idukki district which claimed over 100 lives on Friday is the third and worst mishap involving the Sabarimala pilgrims on the 'Makarajyothi' day on January 14.



Lakhs of pilgrims converge at the holy shrine to watch the 'Makarajyothi', a bright flame that flickers three times on a remote hillside of Ponnambalamedu, every year and the number of devotees keeping growing each pilgrimage season.

On Jan 14, 1952, 66 Ayyappa pilgrims were burnt to death when two cracker sheds caught fire.

On the same day in 1999, 52 pilgrims were killed following a stampede while they were returning after witnessing the 'Makarajyothi' at Pampa.