'Looks like chicken curry'; Divya S Iyer faces vile cyber attack for celebrating Attukal Pongala

For years, Attukal Pongala has effectively promoted multiculturalism as people from all religions, especially women converge on this day to seek blessing by offering Pongala to Attukal Devi in belief of good auspices. The tradition has been continuing for a long without any major discord among the masses.

Like many of her contemporaries, bureaucrat Divya Sesha Iyer, who is also the wife of Congress Politician K S Sabarinadhan, offered Pongala in good belief on Sunday. But little did Divya know that a Facebook post about the same festival would incense some sections on the internet.

K S Sabarinadhan posted a picture on his Facebook page showing Diva preparing Pongala as part of the Attukal festival. The comment section soon went vile with remarks demeaning Divya's beliefs. Many questioned the bureaucrat’s audacity to celebrate the festival, while others jeered at her saying her pongala offering looked like egg curry.

It meant no logic why the comments attacked Divya for her affirmation of the Hindu religion and practicing her belief. Even Christian and Muslim women offer Pongala to seek blessings from Attukal Devi but are not subjected to such vile comments. The former district collector has quietly followed her belief without offending anyone, and what she receives is incongruous harassment on the internet.

There is also criticism directed at K S Sabarinadhan by some others for not protecting his wife despite the flurry of hate comments. Sabarinadhan has hitherto not responded to the issue, mostly in apprehension on whether any remark would tarnish his party’s chances in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Divya was earlier caught in another such controversy after she carried her toddler to the stage at a government function in Pathanamthitta. It is a shame that an affable youngster and an adept bureaucrat like Divya is facing such vileness while mainstream media and politicians remain silent.