Kerala - Kozhikode   

Breaking barriers for temperance

Kozhikode: A collective of Hindu and Muslim religious leaders have joined hands to end the “increasing trend” of secretly serving alcohol at houses as part of wedding day festivities.

Temple and Mahallu committees at Naduvannur, Balussery and Ulliyeri panchayats in Kozhikode district have come together and constituted a forum, ‘Kshethra-Mahallu Lahari Virudha Vedi,' for the purpose. Religious leaders fear that the practice of serving alcohol will corrupt young impressionable minds and disturb social life.

Twenty-eight Mahallu committees and 14 temple committees from these panchayats have joined the forum, which was officially inaugurated by Guruvayur Devaswom Board chairman Thottathil Raveendran at a public function at Ulliyeri.

Though the forum was officially launched only recently, it began its activities a few months ago. K.V. Abdul Majeed, its secretary, says religion is no barrier for this “dangerous trend” as liquor is served, secretly though, in all houses of people from various faiths.

Drinks have become an indispensable part of most wedding ceremonies. The drinking parties invariably centre on the orchestra that is invited to play on the wedding eve. “We are not against songs or merrymaking, but it should not be at the cost of making youngsters alcoholics,” said Sreedharan Palayat, general secretary of the forum.

Local people say that the “drinking” begins at midnight, after the elders leave the scene. “It has almost become a norm these days,” Mr. Palayat said.

Booklets distributed

The Vedi has started campaigning against the “degenerative” trend. It has distributed 3,000 booklets in a bid to create awareness among families. The forum also plans to conduct family conventions to sensitise people to the ill effects of alcohol and drugs, besides persuading them to reduce the expenditure related to wedding functions. “We are planning to urge the families to reduce the wedding function to a single day instead of two days, as is the practice here,” Mr. Majeed said.

Boycott threat

The forum has other goals as well. “It will also work as an active forum for communal harmony,” said Mr. Majeed, who added that the forum was also planning strict measures such as boycotting wedding functions where liquor was supplied and refusing to cooperate with families that did not comply with its directions.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Survey in colony to identify self-employment ventures
New taluk in Koduvally soon, says Chief Minister
Breaking barriers for temperance
IUML worried over status in UDF: VS

Copyright © 2010, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu