Controversy over Makarjyothi cannot be settled legally: Ravi

Kollam (Ker),Jan 25 (PTI) Amid controversy whether theMakarajyothi'' light visible from the Sabarimala shrine is acelestial phenomena or man-made, Union Minister Vayalar Ravihas said the issue cannot be settled legally as it involvesthe faith of a large number of people.

People would continue to throng in large numbers theSabarimala temple every year despite the controversy, he toldreporters here last evening.

In the backdrop of the stampede on January 14 thatleft 102 Sabarimala devotees dead, the Kerala High Court hadasked the board managing the shrine whether or not the�Makarajyothi'' is a man-made phenomenon.

The beacon that fleetingly appears at dusk on January14 marks the climax of the two-month �Makaravilakku'' seasonfrom mid-November at Sabarimala. The light flickers across theskies above Ponnambalamedu, east of Sabarimala shrine, duringthe �Makarasamkramam'' pooja ritual.

On certain observations regarding religious faith inthe Supreme Court judgement in the Graham Staines case, thesenior Congress leader said faith in a particular religionshould not necessarily be a criterion for courts while makingobservations on religion and beliefs.

The reported observations in the apex court judgementthat religious faith was the reason for the accused to committhe crime was painful,'' he said.