A temple rope that binds two communities

NAGERCOIL: Mandaicadu in Kanyakumari district is often seen as a communally sensitive place but what has never been highlighted is the strong undercurrent of religious harmony that runs through here.The rope used to hoist the flag during the Bagavathi Amman temple festival in Kanyakumari is offered by a Christian fisherman’s family. The 10-day Vaikasi festival began on June 4 and as per tradition, the rope for hoisting the temple flag was offered by 57-year-old fisherman, Subash.For seven generations, his family, otherwise called the ‘Kailiyaar’ family offer the rope for this temple ritual. According to Sahitya Akademi awardee and son of the soil Ponneelan, hundreds of years ago an old fisherwoman named ‘Kailiyamma’ after selling fish went to collect dry cow dung from a rock, where the Vivekananda rock is now situated. At that time a little girl sitting near the rock, asked Kailiyamma to lift her and drop her at a distance.Kailiyamma, who was tired refused but the child urged her and said she could drop her at any place if she found her weight too heavy to bear. After walking some yards with the girl, she found the child’s weight too heavy and dropped her. Immediately, the child turned into a young woman and offered Kailiyama a garland and a gold ornament and asked her to choose whatever she likes. Kailliyamma chose the garland. The girl child who was Lord Bagavathiamman offered Kailiyamma the first rights in her temple. The heirs of Kailiyamma were also given first rights and were allowed to give the ropes for hoisting the temple flag, said Ponneelan.“Earlier, we used to make the rope here, but now we buy the rope from shops in Nagercoil”, said Subash who bought the rope this year.The rope is considered sacred and after it is bought from Nagercoil, it is not even placed on the floor during travel.“The night before the flag hoisting ceremony,after offering poojas, I take the rope on my head and go along with the officials to the temple,” said Subash. The mythology behind this tradition may or may not be true but what is important is that it stands as an exemplary example of religious unity in a district noted for communal tensions.