Sabarimala: Despite Supreme Court judgment, notice boards say women banned into temple

By Sanjana Santhosh  |  First Published Nov 6, 2018, 4:15 PM IST

A protest also was staged by Ayyappa devotees on Tuesday morning at Sannidhanam against several women due to doubts over their age. Then, when they came to know the truth, the protesters themselves provided security to the woman to visit the shrine.
 

Pathanamthitta: The Supreme Court verdict on September 28 allowing the entry of women of all age groups into Kerala’s Sabarimala temple had made the famous shrine a battlefield.

The Supreme Court allowed the entry of women in the age group of 10 to 50 years, but the Sabarimala surroundings prove that it has not implement the verdict.

As sources said the notice boards in which "women between age 10 and 50 are not allowed to visit sannidhanam" can be still seen in Sabarimala. The Devaswom has to remove the notice boards, but they haven't done it yet.

"This notice board is showing that no one can remove the ban on women's entry in Sabarimala. The Supreme Court and the Devaswom board can't do anything. Even if they try to do something also Lord Ayyappa won't allow them to do anything," said Lakshmi Arunkumar, an Ayyappa devotee.


On Monday Sabarimala opened for Chithira Attavisesham day, which marks the birth anniversary celebration of Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, the head of the Travancore royal family in Sabarimala.

A young woman reached Pamba seeking protection to visit Sabarimala shrine. Her husband and two children accompanied Cherthala native Anju.

ALSO READ: Sabarimala: Devotees stop women at Sannidhanam over doubts about their age, escort them to shrine after clarification

The woman took the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus from Nilakkal at 5 pm and arrived at Pamba around 6 pm.

They then reached the police control room and spoke with the officials about the security measures. Later, she with her family, decided to go back without having Darshan.

ALSO READ: Sabarimala temple opens, 25-year-old woman reaches for darshan with family

A protest was also staged by Ayyappa devotees on Tuesday morning at Sannidhanam against several women due to doubts over their age. Some devotees claimed that a woman who reached the Sannidhanam was below the age of 50 and blocked her. She also did not have Irumudi Kettu with her. The woman who felt physical discomfort was shifted to the clinic at the Sannidhanam.

Later, the protesters claimed that she was not 52 years old, and did not have Irumudi Kettu. Then, when they came to know the truth, the protesters themselves provided security to the woman to visit the shrine.

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