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Children buried alive in Hindu ritual
Written by Rajeshree Sisodia
Thursday, 14 April 2005

Over 80 people in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu face jail for burying their own children alive in a gruesome religious ritual

The accused parents and villagers are due in court after police swooped on them taking part in a Hindu rite, near the town of Rajapalayam, around 500 kilometres south from the Tamil Nadu state capital Chennai, on 11 April.
In the ceremony - called Kuzhimattru which means changing pits in the south Indian language Tamil - followers take a vow to bury their firstborn if the Gods bless them with a child.

Twenty-eight fully-conscious children, all under one year of age, were buried for around two minutes in pits two-feet deep and part-covered with tin sheeting, as part of a 400-year-old tradition to please the goddesses Muthukuzhi Mariamman and Kaliamman, before being exhumed.

The mass burials, which happen every three to seven years in accordance with the position of the stars, are carried out in Hindu temples while a priest performs ceremonies.

Devotees believe the children will be protected from serious illnesses.

The charges come in the latest clampdown by Tamil Nadu authorities to stop the archaic practice.

Mr Mohammed Aslam, district magistrate for the Rajapalayam district, said even though none of the children were killed, the authorities would not tolerate the ritual.

We had told them very clearly before the ritual. We warned them that this should not be done, he added. Around 80 people have been charged. The case has been registered. The process of making them appear in court will take a few weeks.

Tamil Nadu housing minister Mr Dorairaj, was sacked from his post for attending a similar ritual three years ago.

Tamil Nadu law bans the ceremony under its 2002 Prohibition of Ritual and Practice of Burying Alive of a Person Act.

People found guilty can be jailed for up to three years or fined 5,000 rupees.

Children buried alive in Hindu ritual

04/14/2005 6:55:48 AM PDT by bedolido 22 replies 722+ views
Yahoo News ^ | 04/13/2005 | staff writer
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian police have charged 80 people for burying children alive in an ancient Hindu ceremony known as 'the festival of pits'. The ceremony, in which children -- some less than a year old -- are buried alive briefly and then dug up, happened on Monday in southern Tamil Nadu state, The Asian Age reported on Thursday. Authorities have been trying for years to stop it and people found guilty face up to three years in jail and or a fine of 5000 rupees (60.7 pounds). Every two years, parents who have vowed to bury their first-born...

Chennai.. Don't you go and try to be religious with that kid of yours :(

But I'm sure he's not dumb enough to try that!