Sabarimala: 2 women’s entry bid foiled
PRIEST SAYS WILL LOCK THE TEMPLE AND LEAVE IF GIRLS AND WOMEN IN 10-50 AGE GROUP ENTER PREMISES
The Communist Party of India Marxist-led Left Democratic Front government in Kerala found itself sinking into more trouble as two more women — a journalist from Andhra Pradesh, and an activist from the state — attempted, and failed, to make an entry into the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple yesterday.
The temple — a traditional male preserve because the deity Ayyappa is believed to be a bachelor who does not like to be distracted by the presence of women — was thrown open to all devotees, irrespective of gender, by India’s Supreme Court recently.
However, the state government has been unable to assist any woman to reach the temple, despite three days of efforts after the temple opened for rituals on Wednesday.
The Sabarimala Temple in Kerala has become the focus of a battle over gender equality, pitting religious traditionalists against progressive voices pushing for a more liberal Hinduism.
A Supreme Court decision to end a ban on women of “menstruating age” — those between 10 and 50 years — from visiting has sparked violent demonstrations on the roads leading to the complex.
On Wednesday, a devotee from Andhra Pradesh identified as Madhavi and a native of Cherthala in Kerala identified as Libi had to abandon their pilgrimage after they were blocked by the traditionalists.
On Thursday, Suhasini Raj who works for the New York Times in India, was heckled, abused and pelted with stones in her abortive attempt to make it to the temple, despite having strong police protection.
Yesterday, dramatic scenes were played out near the Sannidhanam, close to the sanctum sanctorum of the temple when Kavita Jakkal, a journalist representing the Mojo television channel in Andhra Pradesh and Rehana Fatima, a Keralite activist, attempted to reach the temple.
Jakkal marched up the hill to the shrine in police riot gear, surrounded by nearly 100 policemen. Fatima, who was in the traditional black attire that devotees wear on the Sabarimala pilgrimage, also had police protection, but they were confronted by a strong contingent of traditionalists at Sannidhanam, preventing further progress.
The activist was carrying the customary “irrumudi” offering made of coconut and clarified butter in a cloth bag on top of her head.
But bare-chested, clapping and shouting devotees blocked their path, with priests chanting mantras and slogans beside the final steps.
“It’s absolutely wrong what they tried. One lady is not even a Hindu and other is an activist from a left party union,” Anil Kumar, a local BJP leader manning a roadblock yesterday, said.
“Why is the police even escorting such women to the temple? They are not even from families who are devotees of our Ayyappa [deity].”
Inspector General of Police, S. Sreejith, who headed the police team that provided protection to the women attempted to mediate with the protesters, but gave up the effort after advice from the government to beat a retreat for the time being. The
two women were then escorted back downhill.
Meanwhile, a bigger problem surfaced for the state government when the tantric [priest of the Tantric system] at the temple, Kandararu Rajeevaru, said if girls and women in the 10-50 age-group entered the temple, he would lock the temple, give the keys to the Travancore Devaswom Board manager and leave.
Government stumped
He said the decision had been taken after consultation with the senior tantrics of the family which conducts the rituals at the temple.
That decision appears to have left the state government totally stumped even as the federal government insists that the
state ought to implement the apex court’s ruling to permit all devotees to worship at the temple.
Hundreds of hardliners, throwing stones at batonwielding police, have defied the order — surrounding and shouting at any woman attempting to make it to the temple despite a heavy police presence.
Groups of young men also surrounded and smashed the car windows of female television reporters and threatened others. Another female correspondent was kicked.
They also stopped and checked cars at intersections in the area and local Hindu groups imposed a strike on Thursday, warning taxi drivers not to take anyone to the shrine.
On Thursday the mood at the temple, reached by a steep path through a lush tiger sanctuary, was festive, with the only females present being small girls or older women.
“Everyone is angry and I don’t have to hide it. What the Supreme Court has done isn’t right. We don’t want any change. Our Ayyappa’s traditions don’t need to be tampered with,” devotee Sundaravadana said, clutching a “Save Sabarimala” placard.
“We’ve come here since our childhood and understand the rich tradition behind it. Women are allowed everywhere, at all other temples. It doesn’t happen here for a reason. We will do whatever to save our Sabrimala,” he added.