Actor Devan led a ‘rath yatra’ from Chengannur to Nilackal on Sunday expressing solidarity with the ongoing Namajapa yajnom by Ayyappa devotees in protest against the Supreme Court verdict permitting women of all age groups at Sabarimala.
Kandararu Mohanararu, tantri, inaugurated the yatra by lighting a lamp in front of the Mahadevar temple at Chengannur in the morning.
B. Krishnakumar, programme co-ordinator, presided. O.S. Unnikrishnan, lyricist; T.D.P. Namboodiri, director, Tantra Vidyapeedhom; and Siddique Musaliyar of the Vavar Swami shrine at Sabarimala; spoke.
The rath yatra reached Nilackal in the afternoon. The yatra was accorded receptions en route.
P.C. George, MLA, inaugurated the public meeting at Nilackal in the afternoon.
Mr. George called upon the Hindu community and Ayyappa devotees to arise to ensure protection of the custom and practices at Sabarimala.
He said the Christian and Muslim brethren should not keep mum at the onslaught on the ritualistic custom and practices at the Hindu temples as this would happen to them too as the next move.
Govt flayed
Mr. George alleged that the government which was supposed to protect the interests of the Ayyappa devotees was acting against their religious faith.
He said the devotees should take a decision that they would neither go to Sabarimala nor permit anyone to Sabarimala till the women’s entry issue was resolved.
The MLA said he would not attend the high-level meeting on Sabarimala in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday. Instead, he would take part in the ongoing agitation at Nilackal.