Well, you all may know that a month ago Supreme Court has announced a verdict where the panel of judges stated that anyone from any gender and age could go to the Sabarimala temple. Now, after the verdict, a long group of people, mostly women, and some of the Temple authorities aren’t happy. Also, the big majority of people aren’t looking that supportive to the Supreme Court’s verdict. A little over 24 hours to go before the Sabarimala shrine in Kerala but things aren’t looking as good as expected by the people.
Sabarimala Protests Live Updates
Devotees on Tuesday stopped vehicles at Nilackal – the main gateway to Sabarimala- and prevented women of the “banned” age group from trekking to the holy hill, as tension loomed ahead of the opening of the Lord Ayyappa Temple tomorrow for monthly pooja. The shrine located on the mountain ranges of the ecologically fragile Western Ghats opens tomorrow for the first time after the recent Supreme Court order permitting women of all age groups there, reports PTI. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, however, told reporters that no one would be allowed to block devotees from proceeding to Sabarimala.
There is a Christian connection, too, to the temple. A large number of devotees visit the Arthunkal church dedicated to St Andrew and St Sebastian at Alappuzha on their way back from Sabarimala. At the church, many of them remove the sacred beads they wear around their neck through their 41-day fast. Ponds at the church are cleaned weeks before the annual pilgrimage begins.
(Source: WikiMedia/Challiyil Eswaramangalath Vipin/Chalakudy)
Lok Sabha MP Anto Antony, who represents Pathanamthitta constituency, under which the Sabarimala hill shrine falls, urged the Centre on Tuesday to issue an ordinance to find a way around the Supreme Court’s order lifting the ban on women restricted to enter the temple. While in Erumeli, Antony attended a dharna organised by women’s outfits of Congress, Indian Union Muslim League and Kerala Congress (M) in protest against the Supreme Court verdict.
He told PTI, “The Sabarimala temple will open for monthly pooja tomorrow evening. We all are very concerned. This time, the centuries’ old pilgrimage to Sabarimala, which is a festival of all faiths, is in the shadow of conflicts. Unfortunately, I haven’t got any response from the Prime Minister so far.” He also said the apex court’s ruling has met with opposition from everyone including people of different faith.
Travancore Devaswom Board and the Pandalam royal family have failed to reach a consensus. President of the managing committee of the Pandalam Palace Sasikumar Varma, said that the board could not commit to the demands of the royal family to file a review petition against the top court’s order, reported Indian Express.
“We’re upset that they’re unwilling to discuss it today. Meeting wasn’t satisfactory.We came out of meeting because they’re not ready to accept our demands,” said Varma, as quoted by ANI.
TDB President A Padmakumar said that the Board would meet again on Friday to decide the next course of legal action, including the review petition against the apex court’s verdict on allowing women to enter the Sabarimala temple.
Seen rain like this? It’s pouring down like anything here in Erumeli, one of the important halting points for Sabarimala pilgrims. In locals’ hearts here, such downpour evokes grim memories of the floods 2 months ago
The dance has begun. But it’s a male-only affair here in Erumeli even as sporadic, unconfirmed reports of violence stream in from Nilackal, the base camp
A group of pilgrims from Andhra getting ready to perform a ritual dance in Erumeli before trekking to Sabarimala
Seen rain like this? It’s pouring down like anything here in Erumeli, one of the important halting points for Sabarimala pilgrims. In locals’ hearts here, such downpour evokes grim memories of the floods 2 months ago
On their way to Sabarimala, a group of Ayyappa devotees halt at Erumeli for lunch
Ayyappa devotees from Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh cooking lunch as they halt at Erumeli on their way to Sabarimala
A group of pilgrims from Andhra getting ready to perform a ritual dance in Erumeli before trekking to Sabarimala
We think that the whole drama is going to pick some new heights in the upcoming days. Even some political leaders and other supportive parties aren’t happy with the verdict and they are protesting against it. Also, the protesters along with several members of the BJP held a massive protest march yesterday at the Kerala Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram. Overall, you all should know that things aren’t going right for the government and they assured that they aren’t going to file review.
Sabarimala Live Updates:
Also, the sources are saying that the Travancore Devaswom Board, a temple body, is expected to hold a meeting with various stakeholders including the Pandalam royal family and Ayyappa devotees. We think that things aren’t going to be easy for the public in upcoming days as well as for the local people and government. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan assured that government will not submit a review petition and they will facilities to allow all devotees to go to Sabarimala shrine tomorrow.
A majority of women came out and they started a silent march against the verdict. Also, we have seen the big drama yesterday where the protestors gave the 24 hours ultimatum to the government to file the review petition. Also, we have seen Lok Sabha lawmaker Anto Antony, who represents Pathanamthitta constituency under which the Sabarimala hill shrine comes, urged the Centre to issue an ordinance to get around the Supreme Court order.
Also, we have seen that some college students and women media reporters were not allowed inside the campus and the temple authorities stopped them. You all should know that police are trying their hard in maintaining the peace. We have seen that some women are happy too and they wanted to go inside the temple to pray which is against the religious law of people.
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