South India Religious News Updates (4th Week of August, 2018)
Kerala : Ravaged by floods and Rain, Kerala Cancels ‘Onam’ celebrations
Kerala government cancelled annual ‘Onam’ celebrations this year to utilise amount for relief measures, CM Pinarayi Vijayan said.
The Kerala government, which had kept Rs 30 crore for the cultural events, that were scheduled to take place for a week, decided to divert that amount to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund. The Kerala government, which had kept Rs 30 crore for the cultural events, that were scheduled to take place for a week, decided to divert that amount to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund.
Thiru Onam is falling on August 25. “What has occurred in our state has been the worst ever (disaster). A total of 444 villages have been affected. The money set aside for Onam will be used for relief. We seek everyone’s help in our efforts,” CM Pinarayi Vijayan told the media after a cabinet meeting.
The Kerala Chief Minister said a decision has been taken by his cabinet to form a cabinet sub-committee which will look into the quick implementation of the relief and rehabilitation programmes. “From September 3 to 15, special courts would be held to see that all those who lost valuable records are issued duplicate ones and that too free of cost. We have also asked the State Level Bankers Committee to see that when the compensation amount is transferred, they should not levy any charges,” Vijayan said.
Karnataka : Rahul Gandhi hails the people of Suntikoppa!
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday hailed the people of Suntikoppa, a small town in Karnataka, for working together to help the flood victims of the state and described them as an “oasis of hope” after a news report told the poignant story of the town. He hailed the people of Suntikoppa in a tweet alongwith the news report.
In Kodagu, Karnataka, massive floods have unleashed a trail of devastation. But amidst the gloom, here's a great story about an oasis of hope, a small town, Suntikoppa, where Shiv, Ram, Christ, Allah and the Buddha are working together to help those in need. This is India! pic.twitter.com/9L1puN9kQU
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 21, 2018
In the news report, it was mentioned how the people of Suntikoppa converted a temple, a church, and a madrasa into a relief camp by keeping caste or religion at bay, thus showing the essence of communal harmony. The heavy rains in Karnataka, leading to flooding and landslips, have claimed 12 lives in Kodagu district. They stayed put in temple all night till help arrived on Monday morning; 600 villagers saved in Velerupadu mandal, says SP.
Andhra Pradesh : Morethan 650 devotees rescued trapped in floods
Nearly 650 devotees trapped in floods at the Gubbala Mangamma temple in Buttayagudem village in West Godavari district were rescued by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), 10th Battalion, the AP State Disaster Response and Fire Services, the ITDA and the police on Monday.
The devotees visited the temple on Sunday and got trapped due to flash floods in the Kondavagu and other rivulets which were in spate due to continuous downpour in the hilly areas. As the water did not recede till late in the night, the pilgrims stayed put at the temple. Officials could not take up any rescue operations immediately due to the heavy rain.
On Monday, they reached the temple by boats and rescued all the devotees. West Godavari SP M. Ravi Prakash said four police personnel, who were deployed at the temple, were also trapped in the floods. “We provided drinking water, food and milk to the devotees and rescued them with the help of boats and ropes,” the SP said.
Tamil Nadu : SC to decide the shifting of Shiva Idol on Thirukurunkudi Temple
The Supreme Court is deciding a 22-year-old legal battle over the shifting of a Shiva idol at the ancient temple in Thirukurunkudi village in Tirunelveli district.
A Bench led by Justice Ranjan Gogoi is examining an appeal filed by Thirukurunkudi Jeeyar Mutt through its Jeeyar Swamigal, represented by advocate Vipin Nair, which brings to fore fundamental right of religious freedom of a mutt under Article 25 of the Constitution. The question is whether religious freedom of a mutt includes the right to shift an idol in temple managed by it.
The temple in Thirukurunkudi village has three idols of Lord Vishnu/Nambi in three different positions, being enshrined in three different sanctum sanctorums. In front of one of these shrines, there is a sub-shrine of Lord Shiva.
The mutt’s appeal in the apex court is a challenge to a Madras High Court order objecting to the shifting of the Lord Shiva idol from its earlier position despite the fact that the Tamil Nadu government had even ratified the move.
The idol was moved after gaining expert opinion and taking into consideration the fact that Shivarathri festival was celebrated after dusk and the idol should be placed separately and not in the vicinity of the Lord Vishnu idols. The sanctum sanctorums for the Vishnu idols close early for the day making it difficult for Shivarathri celebrations in the temple. The re-location of the idol is supported by the Shaivites in the Supreme Court.
The villagers made their representations in 2003 to the Jeeyar so as to enable them to celebrate the night festival of Lord Shiva.
Tamil Nadu : Special Prayers at Vellankini Church for Kerala
Special prayers were conducted today at the famous Shrine Basilica at Velankanni in the district for rain-ravaged Kerala to return to normalcy.
Rector Prabhakar Adigalar led the prayers in Malayalam. The priest prayed for the safety of the people and fast return of normalcy in the neighbouring state which has been experiencing the deadliest deluge in close to a century. The rain fury since 8 August have claimed 194 lives. Popularly known as the “Lourdes of the East,” the Shrine Basilica, dedicated to the Lady of Good Health, is an important pilgrimage centre for Christians from Kerala.A large number of pilgrims from the state throng this 16th century church during weekends.
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