Donkeys at Sabarimala have more grace than tantri, says Kerala minister

Kerala PWD minister and CPI-M leader G Sudhakaran said the do not appear to have any attachment or concern towards Lord Ayyappa.

Kerala PWD minister and CPI-M leader G Sudhakaran on Sunday slammed the Sabarimala temple tantri saying the donkeys in the temple town have more grace.

In the file photo, devotees can be seen climbing over the holy eighteen golden steps to worship Lord Ayyapa at Sabarimala (Vivek Nair / HT Photo)

Sudhakaran, known for his sharp tongue, made the observation at an inaugural speech at a cultural event in Alappuzha.

Sudhakaran said they (tantris) do not appear to have any attachment or concern towards Lord Ayyappa.

“At the temple town, it is the donkeys that do most of the work. Till date they have not gone on any protest. After their hard work they take rest near the Pamba river. These donkeys have more grace than the tantri,” said a fuming Sudhakaran.

At the temple town, donkeys carry most goods from the base camp at Pamba to the hill temple.

The minister has been cut up with the Sabarimala tantri family ever since they threatened to close down the temple in case a women in the age group 10 to 50 arrives to pray at the shrine in line with a Supreme Court verdict.

The members of the Kantararu family hold the tantric rights of the Sabarimala temple. The present chief tantri is Kantararu Rajeevaru.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.)