Sabarimala Protests: Protests Continue, Women’s Attempts to Visit Shrine Unsuccessful

On the fourth day of the pilgrimage season of Kerala’s Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple, on Saturday, there has been no report of any woman between the age of 10 to 50 years entering the hilltop shrine.

As the tension prevails around the temple, a woman from Tamil Nadu was allowed inside the temple on Saturday. Although, the 52-year-old had to face the protesters before entering;  the traditionalists presumed her age to be below 50 years.

Latha, accompanied by her husband and son, was stopped just as she was about to climb the hallowed 18 steps leading to the temple, but was later allowed in. The violent protesters even checked her identity card to make it sure that she does not belong to the age group of 10-50 years.
 

The Supreme Court on September 28 overturned a centuries-old practice that barred women of menstrual age (10-50 years) from entering the hill temple, where a celibate deity Lord Ayyappa is worshipped.

Read More: Celibacy of Ayyappa is an Excuse to Oppress Women

Meanwhile, on Saturday evening, a 38-year-old woman, Manju, presented herself before senior police officials, and requested them to facilitate her pilgrimage to the temple in the light of the SC verdict.  Manju, the President of the Kerala Dalit Mahila Federation, however, had to reschedule her plan for the trek today, as it was raining heavily in the area.

While, the protesters who have been camping nearby the temple, saying that they are devotees, have said that they would remain there to check whether Manju proceeds to Sabarimala.

A few BJP leaders including JR Padmakumar and AN Radhakrishnan were arrested on Monday for violating Section 144.

Read More: Protests Intensify as the Doors of the Sabarimala Temple Open, Section 144 Imposed

On the other hand, the Travancore Devasom Board (TDB) member K.P. Shankara Das on Saturday disagreed with the threat of Sabarimala Tantri family to close the temple doors if any woman within the barred age group arrives for darshan.

"It's the Supreme Court that has directed that women within the age group of 10 to 50 will be allowed within the shrine's sanctum sanctorum. Hence, all are duty bound to adhere to it," the former legislator told the media.

"It is not fair to say that the temple will be locked. Moreover, the protest staged on Friday by temple staff and the Tantri (chief priest) was wrong and an explanation will be demanded," he said.

Earlier on Friday, TDB, the custodian of the Sabarimala temple, had decided to submit a detailed report about the happenings in and around the temple both to the Supreme Court and the Kerala High Court in the wake of violent protests. TDB President A. Padmakumar, made it clear that the board would soon approach their legal counsel for preparation of the report.

"We have no intention to play political games with Sabarimala," said Padmakumar.

Read More:  Sabrimala: RSS Supremo Justifies Flouting of SC Order

Frenzied protests and threats to close down the temple forced two women on Friday to return from Sabarimala on the third day of unrest, as Kerala Police declined to escort a third woman to the hill shrine.

The Tantri family and members of the Pandalam royal family considered closing down of the temple if further attempts were made by women from the barred age group. Chief Priest Kantararu Rajeeveru later on Friday confirmed that he would have no other choice but to close the temple, if the age-old traditions of the temple were violated.

On Saturday, Rajeeveru garnered more support. Malikepuram temple chief priest Anish Nampoothiri said he could not find fault with the Lord Ayyappa temple Tantri's statement, and that no action could be taken by the TDB against the Sabarimala staff.

Security has been further tightened around the shrine which will close its doors on October 22.

With inputs from IANS