Hanuman vigraha destroyed in raid by Forest officers in Ponmudi ‘Seethatheertham’

‘Seetha theertham’ in Ponmudi  has been the sacred place for tribals for centuries. Seetha theertham’, a small pond, which has a sacred legend associated with it that Lord Rama’s wife Sita had taken a dip in it during ‘vanavasa’ is situated on hilltop.Not only tribals,  Devotees from far and wide come to this sacred place and offer pongala too to Seetha devi here.

Ponmudi, like Munnar has been targeted by Real estate Mafia with vested interests. In the name of Tourism development, many new buildings are springing up in the area. The increase in number of devotees every year coming to pilgrimage to Seethatheetham is seen as a deterrent by the real estate and conversion mafia in the area.

A huge force of Forest range officers in six jeeps raided the temple and destroyed the Hanuman vigraha, recently installed by Tribals in the area. This was done under the pretext that the area belong to Forest department. The tribals in the area is worshipping in this sacred place centuries before this forest department came in place.

This is part of a wider plan to attack Hindus and isolate them by citing Forest laws and threatening the hapless Hindus who follow their age old traditions and customs generation after generation. Under Adivasi Mahasabha, various Hindu organisations are planning to conduct protest march to Palodu Forest range office. 

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