Sabarimala row: 'Let our act inspire more women,' says Kanakadurga
Jisha Surya | TNN | Jan 3, 2019, 12:16 IST
Bindu Ammini and KanakadurgaTHIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Bindu Ammini and Kanakadurga, both below 50 years of age, entered the Sabarimala Temple at around 3.30am on Wednesday. Speaking to TOI over phone, Bindu said despite spending quality time at Sabarimala, they faced no opposition from other devotees.
They carried the customary ‘Irumudi Kettu’ and wore black dresses. “We skipped the ‘Pathinettam Padi’ route due to security reasons and used the entry gate for the temple staff to reach the sanctum sanctorum. There were a good number of devotees. So, we couldn’t spend much time inside the temple. However, we spent quality time on the temple premises. Devotees recognized us and asked whether we had darshan. Policemen in plain clothes provided us security,” she said.
Kanakadurga, from Malappuram, too was elated as she along with Bindu, could offer prayers at the temple in line with the Supreme Court judgement. “Our only regret is that we could not climb the ‘Pathinettam Padi’. We hope in the coming days, women will be able to enter the temple by climbing the ‘Pathinettam Padi’. Let our act inspire more women, including the young generation,” she said.
When asked whether they fear any backlash, Bindu said she and Kanakadurga enjoy the society’s support. Referring to a recent media report, Bindu said even college students wearing black dresses were being targeted as terrorists. “So, you will be branded as a terrorist or anti-social even if you sit inside your house. Hence, I don’t worry at all,” she said.
On the allegation that Supreme Court allowed entry only to believers, Bindu asked whether the mediapersons and other professionals who have gathered on the temple premises were believers. “If a male journalist could enter the temple and a female is not allowed, that is a violation of Article 14, which was criticized by the Supreme Court,” she said.
On December 24, Bindu and Kanakadurga were forced to go back from Sabarimala following protests of the Sabarimala Karma Samiti, which has been opposing the entry of women into the temple. Sources said the two women launched a satyagraha, which was ended only after police promised to provide security.
They carried the customary ‘Irumudi Kettu’ and wore black dresses. “We skipped the ‘Pathinettam Padi’ route due to security reasons and used the entry gate for the temple staff to reach the sanctum sanctorum. There were a good number of devotees. So, we couldn’t spend much time inside the temple. However, we spent quality time on the temple premises. Devotees recognized us and asked whether we had darshan. Policemen in plain clothes provided us security,” she said.
Women scale one more summit; taken to Sabarimala in commando-raid style
Bindu and Kanakadurga, two women in their early 40s, entered Sabarimala’s sanctum sanctorum and had Ayyappa darshan on Wednesday, helping break a longstanding religious taboo that prohibited women of menstrual age from visiting the hill-top shrine and marking a red-letter day in the history of women’s emancipation, not just in Kerala but nationwide.
Kanakadurga, from Malappuram, too was elated as she along with Bindu, could offer prayers at the temple in line with the Supreme Court judgement. “Our only regret is that we could not climb the ‘Pathinettam Padi’. We hope in the coming days, women will be able to enter the temple by climbing the ‘Pathinettam Padi’. Let our act inspire more women, including the young generation,” she said.
When asked whether they fear any backlash, Bindu said she and Kanakadurga enjoy the society’s support. Referring to a recent media report, Bindu said even college students wearing black dresses were being targeted as terrorists. “So, you will be branded as a terrorist or anti-social even if you sit inside your house. Hence, I don’t worry at all,” she said.
On the allegation that Supreme Court allowed entry only to believers, Bindu asked whether the mediapersons and other professionals who have gathered on the temple premises were believers. “If a male journalist could enter the temple and a female is not allowed, that is a violation of Article 14, which was criticized by the Supreme Court,” she said.
On December 24, Bindu and Kanakadurga were forced to go back from Sabarimala following protests of the Sabarimala Karma Samiti, which has been opposing the entry of women into the temple. Sources said the two women launched a satyagraha, which was ended only after police promised to provide security.
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