The entry of two young women into the Sabarimala temple under police protection on Wednesday morning was a swift, closely-guarded operation and devoid of any drama, unlike previous attempts when protesters mobilised in strength to force them to turn back.
The two women Bindu and Kanakadurga, clad in salwar and kurta, reached the hilltop Sannidhanam around 3 a.m. They were sheltered by the police and later escorted to the Ayyappa temple premises in the next 50 minutes.
Skirting the 18 holy steps, they entered the temple through the front door, where a few policemen were deployed to check the entry of pilgrims. Video footage showed them entering through the staff gate on the northern side of the temple complex at 3.48 a.m. and being escorted out by plainclothesmen through the barricade in front of the temple sopanam at 3.50 a.m.
The policemen on duty at the temple premises were reportedly misinformed by plainclothesmen that the women were ‘relatives’ of an Inspector General of Police.
Police escorted the women downhill to Pampa in the next 45 minutes and from there to Angamaly later.
Ms. Bindu and Ms. Kanakadurga had tried to visit the temple on December 24 during the the Mandalam pilgrimage season, but failed amidst massive protests by Sangh Parivar activists and a section of the devotees.
Sabarimala witnessed no protest on Wednesday, as news about the entry of the women was aired only after they left Pampa. Ms. Bindu herself sent a video footage to a private television channel. The police too confirmed it later.