Sabarimala

TDB’s move came amid mounting tension in the backdrop of the stand-off over protests by devotees against entry of women in the 10-50 age group, traditionally barred at the shrine dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, a celibate.

“If possible, we will move a petition in the Supreme Court either tomorrow (Saturday) or Monday,” Padmakumar said adding the board wanted devotees to have peaceful darshan.

The move comes a day after the LDF government at an all-party meeting took a firm stand that it was bound to implement the apex court order and rejected suggestions by opposition parties that it seek time from the court.

The opposition Congress and BJP had walked out of the meeting, accusing the government being adamant and dubbing the exercise a farce.

The Supreme Court is slated to hear petitions seeking review of its September 28 order in January, but has refused to stay it.

This is the third time the temple is opening after the Supreme Court’s order, though no girl or woman pilgrim in the 10-50 age group could offer prayers so far following stiff resistance by devotees and activists.

The annual pilgrim season, observed in two phases, starts tomorrow for the 41-day ‘mandala puja’ festival which will conclude on December 27.

At the airport in Nedumbassery near Kochi, the devotees, including women, whose numbers have grown since morning, squatted outside the domestic terminal building chanting ‘Swamiyae Ayyappa’.