A million line up to oppose Vijayan’s move on Sabarimala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM — More than a million people stood with a lit lamp from the northern most district of Kasargode to the southern tip in the state capital to protest against the Pinarayi Vijayan government’s attempt to dilute the traditions of the Sabarimala temple.
The Sabarimala Karma Samithi (SKS) spearheaded the Ayyappa Jyothi campaign on a stretch of 795k macross Kerala. Actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi handed over the lamp to devotees near Kerala border. Giving support to the campaign, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Sangh parivar forces turned out in full strength to make the event a success.
In front of the state secretariat here stood state BJP chief P.S. Sreedharan Pillai and BJP legislator O. Rajagopal, besides yesteryear actress Maneka Suresh.
“This is being staged to open the eyes of those who are trying to break the traditions of the temple. Numerous women have expressed their unhappiness in breaking the tradition of the temple,” said Suresh, a hugely popular actress.
The Sabarimala Karma Samithi and 41 other Hindu organisations, besides the BJP and the Sangh Parivar, had been working on the campaign. Taking active part in the programme was the Pandalam Royal family members who are the official custodians of the Sabarimala temple jewellery. Their spokesperson P.S. Varma told the media that all of them are extremely happy that this programme is being held. While the NSS, a socio cultural body of the Hindu Nair community, was part of the event, the SNDP Yogam, a similar body of the Hindu-Ezhava community, was not. —