Sabarimala temple opened for the first time two days ago after the Supreme Court ruling lifting the centuries-old ban on entry of women.
The Travancore Devaswom Board will meet today in Thiruvananthapuram to find an amicable solution to the row.
Two women along with a police team are just 200 metres away from the Sabarimala temple. Top cop IG Sreejith is appealing to protesters to let them pass through to offer prayers at the Lord Ayyappa temple.
One of the women, Kavitha Jakkal of Hyderabad-based Mojo TV, is in her late 20s and is wearing the riot gear. The other woman, Rehana Fatima, is wearing a helmet with traditional attire meant for the pilgrimage. The women are surrounded by a massive security ring as protesters continue to shout slogans against women’s entry into the shrine.
The Sabarimala temple opened for the first time two days ago after the Supreme Court ruling lifting the centuries-old ban on entry of women of all age groups, no women has yet been able to visit the Lord Ayyappa shrine.
The Sabarimala temple head priest has appealed to women belonging to the age group of 10-50 who were restricted as per the centuries-old traditions of the shrine, not to come to Sannidhanam.
On Thursday night, Kavitha asked permission to the police team to do a live show from the temple. But the police warned her that they can’t assure security at night. Later, Sreejith said on Friday morning he will assure security and take her to the sannidhanam.
Activist Trupti Desai detained by police, earlier this morning, reported ANI. Desai wrote a letter to SP Ahmednagar yesterday demanding to meet PM Modi to discuss Sabarimala Temple issue ahead of his Shirdi visit on October 19. She had also threatened to stop his convoy if he doesn't meet.
Devotees have blocked attempts from women in the age group of 10 to 50 years from taking the 4.7 km walk from Pamba. On Thursday, Suhasini Raj, who works as the India reporter for The New York Times, along with a foreign national colleague, managed to go past the Pamba gateway but was stopped midway by angry devotees who formed a human wall before her.
The Travancore Devaswom Board will meet today in Thiruvananthapuram to find an amicable solution to the row.
Also watch: Sabarimala temple row: Woman journo attempts entry, 30 priests close door to temple in protest
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