In 2008, stampedes have killed 360, blasts 156 - Who is to blame?

The news report investigates the causes of this kind of incidences.

Unfortunately the pendulum of responsibility shifts most of the times towards the administration of the temple or towards the Government. Both of which in my opinion is wrong.

In my opinion it is the people who are responsible for the kind of situation that emerged. Though it is sad, it should not be let off by passing the buck at the administration.

The sole reason is that people in India do not have patience and are always wanting to get ahead in the line. They always want to be one up the other. Even though they are Gods house there worry is how to get in fast and how to get out fast.

I can state this from the example at Shirdi. Shirdi is a place where everyday lakhs of devotees converge. The number is very high on holidays or special days. Once I read there were 5 lakh people in Shirdi on a given day.

The Shirdi Sansthan has made excellent arrangements for people. The total area where lines for darshan are formed are covered with adequate lighting and ventilation. There is arrangement of toilets and drinking water. The separators are quite wide for two people to stand side by side. Seating is provided. In my opinion there cannot be better arrangement than this. All these arrangements are made with a view that devotees should be able to sit, relax and wait for their turn when they come for darshan.

Now let us see what happens in actual. In spite of these wonderful arrangements the people are cramped for space. Even though seating is provided, there is no way one can sit because in the divider space there are often two people standing so seating is impossible. If you sit, others will go ahead of you with scant disregard to you. You cannot use the toilet or go to drink water as getting back after wards is challenging.

In the game of one up man ship even in the house of God, people ensure that the facilities created for them are not used. The so called devotees act like demons when they are in the line for a darshan, not only at Shirdi but anywhere else as well. They forget that the crowd also include young children, old men and women, etc.

This scene as stated above is a everyday, every time occurrence. Who will teach these devotees that it is not a bus or train that will miss? Who will tell them to take advantage of the facility and not to cramp up spaces?

The point is that even if facilities are made available are we worthy of using these facilities? Do we really deserve the facilities that are created for us. These are the questions that need answers and not what the administration of the temple or Government can do in this situation. Of course they have a role to play, a very important role, but it is finally the people who are going to make or break the things designed for the,

In summary it is the crowds, the people, and the devotees who are responsible.

Finally it is also true that people remember God only on special days, so there is crowd.