Sabarimala

According to TDB, 35 million visited the temple last year in this period.

Kerala’s Left government has faced criticism by the opposition Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party, as well as some fringe groups, over the handling of the emotive and religiously sensitive issue, but chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has stressed that his administration is committed to implementing the top court order.

Braving heavy rains on Monday, two women, including a Dalit activist, tried to enter the temple even as police promised them protection. In a story familiar by now, they too had to retreat in the face of angry protests. Tension continued to stalk the base camps of Nilakkal and Pamba, from where the 5-km trek to the shrine begins, despite authorities imposing restrictions under Section 144 of CRPC that prohibits the gathering of more than four people.

Bhanumati Amma, a 62-yearold woman who has been camping near the 18 holy steps that lead to the sanctum sanctorum, said, “If a woman enters the temple, she will have to go over my body.”

“It is one of the most sacred pilgrimages in the country. Why are politicians and courts in a race to hurt devotees’ sentiments?” asked Nagarjuna Reddy, a doctor from Vijayawada who came to visit the shrine.

Inspector general S Sreejith, who offered prayers at the shrine early on Monday, said, “I am a devotee but also duty-bound.”

ACCORDING TO TDB, 35 MILLION VISITED THE TEMPLE LAST YEAR IN THIS PERIOD