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Kerala: Two women trek to Sabarimala, protesters refuse entry, say protecting shrine


Mangalore Today News Network

Oct 19, 2018: Amid strong protests by devotees opposing the entry of girls and women of menstrual age into the Lord Ayyappa temple, two women, including a reporter from Hyderabad, began trekking early on Friday to Sabarimala hill in Kerala.

 

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The attempt to reach the shrine came a day after a New Delhi-based woman reporter of a foreign media outlet made a failed bid to visit the temple. Police led by IG S Sreejithhave have thrown a security ring around the women who had requested security to go to Sabarimala Sannidhanam.

The woman reporter is in her late 20s while the details of the second woman, who was carrying Irumudikkettu (holy bundle), was not immediately known. If they climbed the hills, they would be the first women from the menstruating age group to visit the Sabarimala temple of Lord Ayyappa after the Supreme Court order permitting women of all age groups to enter the shrine.

Speaking on the protests, Kerala Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac took to Twitter saying that those resorting to violence were not devotees but alleged that they were BJP volunteers who have gathered in the guise of devotees.

He tweeted, "They are not devotees who are indulging violence but BJP volunteers who have gathered in the guise of devotees.There was no women devotee at the  scenes of violence butonly women journalists and that too kilometres from the temple. Violence at Sabarimala is BJP’s manipulation.

On Thursday, the New Delhi-based woman journalist was stopped midway by devotees opposing the entry of women of menstrual age into the hill shrine. The journalist accompanied by her male colleague, a foreigner, descended the hills from Marakkoottam area in the face of mounting protests. A case has been registered against devotees who allegedly prevented her trekking and forced her to climb down the hills.

The protesters have been protesting vehemently saying that they are protecting the shrine by keeping women and girls outside. At Sannidhanam, protesters said, "No woman between 10-50 years of age will enter here. We are protecting Sabarimala."

Another devotee said, "Point of the Supreme Court is right that men and women are equal. But here some culture is going on that women in age group of 10-50 years aren’t allowed in the temple. It’s our custom. We should follow our customs as India is custom-following country."


Courtesy: Zeenews


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