Mahashivaratri
2024 was a tremendous experience. Nityanjali, our dance troupe performed in
Thiruvaiyaru (10:00 pm) and Thiruvidaimarudur (4:00 am). As always, it was a
lovely experience. The insane travelling with the packed schedule and
rehearsals can be gruelling but the entire process is never less than amazing
thanks to the good company, yummy food (which included homemade murukkus), surprisingly
clement weather, live music, dance, and a taste of the divine in all its sacred
and scary glory.
While
people’s faith is entirely private and all are entitled to their beliefs it has
to be admitted that the faithful, especially when they turn up in droves for
religious celebrations can be a public nuisance. I was appalled by the surging
crowds at the temples and the terrifying lack of crowd control or event
security which would guarantee the safety of the heaving masses which included
the elderly, babies, and disabled people. There was zero consideration for others
as I witnessed folks forcing their way into narrow entry points which doubled
as exits, uncaring that they were shoving and hurting others. Traffic snarls were
apparent in every road at all hours of the night and the lack of civic sense
was apparent in the way people discarded paper cups, plastic bags, and
unfinished food across every inch of available space be it a temple or toilet.
The risk
of a stampede loomed over our heads although, it felt like I was probably the
only one who was deeply concerned about getting crushed beneath the filth
encrusted feet of the faithful. (On a related note, why are holy places in
India such an unholy mess?) The devotees seem to think that just because
temples are sacred spaces nothing bad can happen never mind that history and
recent news is filled with tragic events where hundreds lost their lives in
stampedes which occurred during large gatherings at temples when religious
festivities were being observed. Examples include stampedes in Vaishno Devi
Temple (2022), Rajahmundry (2015), Andhra during the Pushkaram festival, Gandhi
Maidan (2014) in Patna after Dussehra, Ratangarh temple (2013) in MP during
Navratri. Incidents have also been recorded in Puri Juganath, Kumbh mela,
Sabarimala, etc.
