Kasaragod: At a time when Christmas carol teams were disrupted, attacked, and the Christmas crib vandalised in Palakkad and Thiruvalla, an inspiring display of unity and warmth unfolded in Kasaragod. Devotees at the Sree Ayyappa Bhajana Mandiram in Mouveni near Narkilakkad in West Eleri grama panchayat welcomed a Christmas carol team with payasam on the night of December 23. 

The carol team from St Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Soonoro Church at Kottamala arrived with children, women, and men, led by a jovial Christmas Father. They sang joyous hymns in front of the mandiram. Ayyappa devotees, clad in traditional attire, paused their evening prayers to listen and watch. 

The Ayyappa devotees fast and sing hymns at the mandiram for 41 days starting from the first of the Malayalam month of Vrischikam. The 41 days will end on Thursday, December 26.

The Ayyappa devotees reciprocated the carol team's goodwill by serving them payasam. In return, the carol team shared their Christmas cake with the Ayyappa devotees.

This heartwarming display of shared joy and mutual respect between faiths stands out amid recent incidents of discord. On December 20, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) disrupted Christmas carols at the Government Upper Primary School in Nallepilly, Palakkad district.

In another troubling incident, the Christmas crib at the Government Basic School in Thathamangalam, Palakkad, was found vandalised. On December 23, five people attacked a carol group, injuring eight people, including women and children at Kumbanad near Thiruvalla.