Devotees flock Sabarimala as portals open amid protests, heavy security

The Sabarimala temple on Monday opened at 5 pm for a one-day special pilgrimage amid tight security. The temple will close at 10 pm, and then reopen Tuesday morning before finally closing at 10 pm. According to figures till 4.15 pm, 5,540 pilgrims had taken the pathway to the temple hilltop, compared with less than 1,000 devotees the same day last year. The famed temple had witnessed massive protests against the September 28 Supreme Court verdict allowing hitherto banned age group of girls and women to enter the Lord Ayyappa shrine. On Monday, many devotees complained and shouted slogans as the police stopped them for checking in the morning. (Text: IANS)