Protests in Kerala over ruling allowing women into temple
FAMILY OF TRADITIONAL PRIESTS AT SHRINE SNUBS TALKS WITH CM
Protests continued in different parts of Kerala yesterday, after last week’s verdict by India’s Supreme Court that gave permission for women to pray at the Sabarimala temple in the state.
The temple, in Pathanamthitta district, has long been a male preserve and bars entry for women and girls in the 1050 age group.
The court verdict means that women pilgrims are expected at the temple when it opens for pilgrimage this season, later this month. Conservative Hindus, including women, have condemned the court verdict.
March to president’s home
Yesterday, a shutdown (hartal) was observed in Pathanamthitta district, protesting the police action against those who had marched to the residence of A. Padmakumar, president of the Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages the temple.
The dawn-to-dusk shutdown affected normal life in the district yesterday.
In a related development, the family of traditional priests at the temple, the tantris, decided not to take part in talks with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan regarding permission to women for pilgrimage at the temple.
The family of priests are of the opinion that such talks can be held after agreeing on submitting a review petition to the apex court regarding its verdict.
The state government has decided not to give such a review petition, which has angered conservative Hindus and the priests.
Responding to the development, the chief minister said in Delhi to “wait and see if the priests will come for talks”.