Women fail to make entry as Sabarimala temple closes

sabarimala — The brief pilgrimage season in Sabarimala failed to make history as women in the 10-50 age group were kept away by protests against their entry despite the Supreme Court order allowing women of all ages to pray at the Ayyaappa temple.

The sanctum sanctorum of the famed temple closed at 10 p.m. on Monday, a day that saw five women making an unsuccessful effort to pray at the hill temple, where tradition had barred women aged between 10 and 50.

Bindu, a woman from Kozhikode in Kerala, appeared before the police at Erumely, one of the entry points to the temple route, but the police refused permission to her after checking her antecedents.

After that she was put on a bus to Mundakayam but angry protesters literally took her out of the bus. Following the timely intervention of the police a crisis was averted.

Likewise at the Pamba entry point, four women from West Godavari district were stopped from going ahead as angry protesters got around them shouting Ayyappa slogans forcing them to retreat.

Starting Wednesday last, Kerala was on the edge, after the temple opened for its customary monthly pujas, the first time after the September 28 the Supreme Court verdict which overturned a centuriesold practice that barred women of menstrual age from entering the hill temple.

Celibate deity Ayyappa is worshipped at the Sabarimala temple where on Monday at 7pm the last pilgrim went up the hill.

None of the dozen women who tried to have a darshan in the last five days succeeded in entering the temple for prayers as thousands of devotees were determined not to allow them. —