The Sabarimala controversy explained

Contrary to what the BJP-allied media portrays, there are women devotees of Ayyappa in Kerala who do not want to wait for the pilgrimage.

What is Sabarimala?

Sabarimala is one of the most prominent Hindu pilgrimage centres in south India, located in Pathanamthitta District, in the state of Kerala.

The temple is open for worship during the 41 days of Mandalapooja (NovemberDecember) Makaravilakku (in January) and Vishu Sankranti (April) — and the first five days of each Malayalam month. Sabarimala would be hollow, they argue. ■ ■ empowerment and in curbing all forms of gender discrimination.

Understandably, it is this group that has drawn most of the flak from the conservatives, as the latter see them as trouble-makers interfering in their religious affairs. These traditionalists fail to recognise the concept of equality and constitutional rule.

The argument of agitators

The main argument at the root of the current agitation against the court verdict is the alleged ‘impurity’ of menstruating women.

In fact, it is a taboo for them in almost all temples. It is more of a voluntary sort of thing considering the difficulties in enforcing it. Whether the court has any right to intervene in the affairs of the faithful is just tactical point to divert attention.

Gulf News archives, PTI The Sabarimala temple in Kerala is one of the ‘richest’ shrines in India in terms of seasonal income Left: Devotees of Ayyappa deity protest in Ahmedabad against the Supreme Court ruling allowing entry of women of menstruating age to the Sabarimala temple.