Sabarimala LIVE UPDATES: Orders banning assembly of four or more people have been imposed in Sabarimala and nearby areas. (Express Photo)
Amid heightened security across the temple shrine, the Sabarimala temple is all set to reopen for the public on Monday evening for two days. The reopening of the temple comes just weeks after violent protests by several Hindu organisations against the Supreme Court verdict allowing women’s entry inside the temple.
As Hindu outfits have mobilised scores of protesters at the temple to prevent the entry of young women, orders banning assembly of four or more people have been imposed in Sabarimala and nearby areas, police said Sunday. Prohibitory orders have also been issued for the base towns of Pamba, Nilakkal, Erumeli and Elavunkal. Around 2,300 personnel, including a 20-member commando team and 100 women personnel have been deployed to ensure smooth ‘darshan’ and security of devotees.
The move has been criticised by the erstwhile royal family of Pandalam, the BJP and the Congress for such fortification. While Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has asserted that the government was committed to implementing the SC order, Devaswom (temple affairs) Minister Kadakampally Surendran said no young woman had approached authorities so far seeking police protection to trek to the temple. “We will not allow women activists to go to the temple. They have ulterior motives. Such persons will be sent back from the base camps,’’ he said.
Speaking on the Sabarimala issue, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the head of 'Art of Living' said he was confident that the Supreme Court would look into the public sentiments and do a rethink on its decision. Ravi Shankar was speaking in New Delhi at the two-day conclave of the Akhil Bhartiya Sant Samiti.
BJP leader M T Ramesh said if police tried to hinder devotees from visiting Sabarimala, it would lead to 'serious repercussions'. The temple complex and nearby areas last month witnessed violent protests by Ayyappa devotees against the entry of young women. At least 12 women had made a vain attempt to reach the shrine of Lord Ayyappa, a celibate after the Supreme Court permitted women in the 10-50 age group to offer prayers there.
Activist Rahul Easwar, president of Ayyappa Dharma Sena that is among the outfits spearheading the protests, in a video message said, "Like police, we are also fully prepared". Easwar, belonging to the Thazhamon family of Sabarimala thantris, was arrested twice last month — in connection with the protests in and around Sabarimala against the government's decision to implement the court verdict and also for making certain remarks — and is out on bail. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Mullapally Ramachandran said the situation in Sabarimala was "explosive" and accused the CPI(M)-led LDF government of failure to handle it. Easwar, belonging to the Thazhamon family of Sabarimala thantris, was arrested twice last month in connection with the protests in and around Sabarimala against the government's decision to implement the court verdict and also for making certain remarks. He is out on bail.
The doors of the temple will be opened in the evening for puja on the occasion of “Chithira Aattavisesham” on Tuesday, the birthday of the last King of Travancore, Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma. It will be closed at 10 pm on Tuesday but would reopen for darshan from November 17 for the three-month-long annual pilgrim season. The temple is opening for the second time since the Supreme Court overturned a centuries-old order barring women of age 10-50 from entering the temple. The first time the temple opened after the order- from October 17 to October 22- no woman was able to successfully enter the temple despite security cover.
Hindu outfits protesting against the entry of women of menstrual age to the holy shrine have urged media houses not to send young women journalists to cover the event. In a letter sent to editors, the Sabarimala Karma Samiti, a joint platform of right-wing outfits, including the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Hindu Aikyavedi Sunday said even the entry of women journalists belonging to this age group as part of their job was also likely to aggravate the situation. “Recognising your right to support or oppose the devotees stand on this issue, we hope you will not take a stand which would aggravate the situation,” PTI quoted the letter.
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In the wake of the violent protests last month, police arrested at least 3,700 people in various cases, which according to the Sabarimala Action Committee, an umbrella organisation of various Hindu outfits, had not dampened their spirits.
“Thousands are now moving towards Sabarimala from across Kerala to prevent the entry of young women to the temple. The agitators include women above the age of 50. We have squads who are ready to sacrifice their lives if young women enter the shrine,’’ said a senior SAC leader.
The Sabarimala temple will open to the public Monday for two days and comes just weeks after the shrine witnessed violent protests by Hindu organisations against a Supreme Court verdict that allowed women of all age to enter the shrine. Hindu outfits too said that they have mobilised scores of protesters at the temple to prevent the entry of young women. Last month, agitators disguised as pilgrims had stopped several young women from entering the Sabarimala temple despite heavy police security. The temple will close Tuesday at 10 pm after a two-day ritual known as chithira atta thirunal.
Taking no chances, the state government has issued prohibitory orders in Sabarimala and the base towns of Pamba, Nilakkal, Erumeli and Elavunkal and around 2,000 police personnel, including commandos, have been deployed.
Also Read | Sabarimala temple to open again today amid tight security
Good Morning, Welcome to the Indian Express LIVE Blog as we bring to you the developments unfolding in Kerala as doors of Sabarimala temple reopen.