A visit to Tirupathi – Is it for Laddus or libidos?

If I were to write a one-liner about Guruvayoor and Tirupathi today it would be “it is all about charging the soul/sole”. There was a time when alcohol, meat, tobacco were kept out of major pilgrimage spots, but today there is no restraint.

Nalini Jameela in her book “Autobiography of a Sex Worker” mentions about Guruvayoor being a hot spot for flesh trade. I really couldn’t believe that a spiritual town in God’s own country thronged by people from all over the world would also involve carnal pleasures. When I asked my dear friend from Kerala to ascertain the fact, he revealed lesser known details about Pooram festival. On the evening after fireworks the crowd pairs up before they disperse and they go down with the setting sun for more fun. Surprised? Well every religion has its dark side. Didn’t Catholic Church have to deal with fathers practicing pedophilia and sexual abuse?

I am not a moral police here, but I am just thinking loud. May be sex is a part of religion? Weren’t Devadasis a part of the temple ecosystem? Didn’t our temples in Khujraho, Konark, etc. have explicit images carved in stone? Freedom of thought, action, speech, expression….?

Tirupathi today is famous for libidos apart from Balaji, tonsure and laddu. Should press abstain from reporting such news or devotees practice abstinence and continence?

Sex workers aplenty in Tirupati: Official (Indian Express - http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20080619233332&Page=T&Title=Southern+News+-+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0)
Friday June 20 2008 09:55 IST
D Srinath
TIRUPATI: Holy town, unholy act
TIRUPATI: In a shocking revelation, a senior official of the Andhra Pradesh Government involved in AIDS control activities admitted the existence of sex workers on the sacred hills of Tirumala, the abode of Lord Venkateswara.Also, a survey conducted by NGOs involved in AIDS control has revealed that Tirupati is one of the hot spots for commercial sex.Addressing a media conference here, AP State AIDS Control Society (APSACS) director R Chandravadan said the survey by ‘peer educators’ of sex workers revealed that there were as many as 3,500 commercial sex workers in and around Tirupati.

The most shocking aspect, however, is that commercial sex extended to even Tirumala. According to the survey, 100- 150 sex workers, based in Tirupati, have been carrying on the activity ‘very secretly’ in 10-15 secluded spots in the hills.“Tirupati has turned into a big challenge for us. Along with the increase in pilgrim rush, commercial sex is also growing. Since it is a sensitive issue, we are treading cautiously,” Chandravadan said.He said the APSACS had resolved to rope in the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) administration to check the problem. This would involve training TTD doctors on HIV/AIDS control measures.Soon after he made the statement, as vernacular eletronic media began playing the news, a damage control exercise was initiated.

TTD executive officer KV Ramana Chary convened a press conference along with Chandravadan.Accusing the media of distorting his statement, Chandravadan claimed his intention was only to alert the TTD administration. Moreover, no ‘official’ survey was conducted on sex workers on the hills, he said.When mediapersons argued that they had only reported what he had stated, Chandravadan left the conference hall. On his part, Chary sought to downplay the remarks saying it was not proper to highlight an ‘isolated comment’.TTD vigilance officials said there is a possibility that some individuals, posing as pilgrims, are taking accommodation and misusing it, an official said.