Sabarimala temple
The doors of Sabarimala temple in Kerala opened Wednesday for the first time after the historic judgement of the Supreme Court that lifted the centuries-old ban on entry of women of menstrual age. However, none of this age group could make it to the shrine on Wednesday as protesters opposed their entry. The Sabarimala Karma Samithi has given a call for state wide bandh on Thursday in Kerala against the permission given to the women for entry into the temple.
Here are LIVE updates:
08:00 am: We demand an ordinance in this regard from both state as well as Centre, especially for SabrimalaTemple: Prayar Gopalakrishnan, Former Travancore Devaswom Board President at Sannidhanam Temple, Kerala
07:30 am: In some temples, there are rituals which must be followed strictly. Court is giving order for all women to enter but from last 50-70 yrs, no women b/w 10-50 yrs of age visited temple. It's our belief which we follow in Hinduism: A devotee
In some temples,there are rituals which must be followed strictly.Court is giving order for all women to enter but from last 50-70 yrs,no women b/w 10-50 yrs of age visited temple. It's our belief which we follow in Hinduism:Devotee at Sannidhanam Temple,Kerala. #SabarimalaTemple pic.twitter.com/5I8qXOP2fT
— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2018
07:00 am: Many devottes call for respecting the entry of women in the themple
06:00 am: Pilgrims queue up at the Sabarimala temple
Early morning visuals from Sannidhanam Temple in Kerala. #SabarimalaTemple pic.twitter.com/vz66iSb0wz
— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2018
On Wedsnesday, women journalists were heckled, their vehicles smashed and young female Ayyappa devotees turned back as hordes of activists of Hindu fringe groups besieged the road leading to the temple, abode to Lord Ayyappa, its eternally celibate deity.
Chaos and mayhem on the road leading from Nilackal, the gateway to the shrine, 20 km away, to Pamba in the foothills from where the devotees start the arduous 6-km trek to Sabarimala reigned supreme, as activists of fought pitched battles with police, leaving many injured and bleeding.
The Pathanamthitta district authoriies promulgated prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC banning assembly of four or more people in strife-torn Pamba and Nilackal following the violence and a strike called by right wing outfits tomorrow.
Incensed over Kerala's Left Front government's decision not to file a review plea against the Supreme Court verdict, protesters pelted police with stones and the latter hit right back with vengeance wielding batons with telling effect, leaving many fallen and writhing in pain on the road.
Both the Congress, the main opposition party in Kerala, and the BJP, which is desperately seeking to expand its footprint in the state, have lent support to the agitation against the Supreme Court verdict.
State Congress working president K Sudhakaran led his party workers in a protest at Nilackal to express solidarity with Ayyappa devotees.
An embattled Left Front government reacted sharply to the protests, with the state's religious trusts minister Kadakampally Surendran calling them "politically motivated".
Watch: Women prevented from entering Sabarimala templevdespite SC ruling