MADURAI, August 21: At least 105 children were ‘‘buried’’ alive for ‘‘just one minute’ in Perayur village, 46 kms from Madurai, on Wednesday to propitiate two female deities even as a minister from Jayalalithaa’s Cabinet watched on.

The children—who were first rendered unconscious—were sunk into makeshift graves, covered completely, kept there for 60 seconds and then pulled out. All this under the benign gaze of state Minister for Housing and Urban Development, C Durairaj.

After being ‘buried’ in a makeshift grave for ‘one minute’, (inset) a girl is carried out. P. Kumarapandian

Durairaj, who hails from the region and who was the chief guest at the function conducted in the name of goddesses Muthukuzhi Mariamman and Kaliamman, told The Indian Express: ‘‘I witnessed the festival at the invitation of the community which organised it. I’ve nothing more to say on this issue.’’

Perayur has been following this tradition for years. The Kuzhi maatru thiruvizha—or the festival of the pits—is observed every five-seven years. The last time the media landed up to cover this event in 1996, violence broke out.

All villagers participate in the ritual, ‘‘burying’’ their children in the hope that their wishes will be granted. Only pre-pubescent girls are chosen for the ritual, while no such condition is imposed in the case of boys. Those in the age group of four to twenty years can ‘‘participate’’ in this ritual.

Family members first sprinkle ash on the child’s head and then spray his or her face with turmeric water, after which the child falls ‘‘unconscious’’.

If the child fails to do so, the ‘‘burial’’ is cancelled and the family fined a thousand rupees. In fact, pit diggers ensure that the children are ‘‘exhausted’’ enough so that they don’t try and wriggle out.

The child is then wrapped in a yellow cloth and taken to the burial ground in front of the temple. After the child is ‘‘buried,’’ his or her parents break a coconut and offer prayers. The entire episode lasts for a minute, after which the priest signals for the pit to be opened. The cloth around the head is unwrapped and the child is taken away by his or her relatives.

Kaliraj, former president of the Perayur Town panchayat, says there has never been any untoward incidents till now.