A group of women under the age of 50 from Chennai have decided to visit Sabarimala next week to pray at the Lord Ayyappa shrine.
The women— seven under the age of 50 have so far confirmed their visit— will leave Chennai on December 22 and are expected to reach Kerala the next day.
The decision by the women, belonging to a rights group called Manithi, is set to stoke another controversy with no woman under the age of 50 has so far been allowed inside the temple despite a Supreme Court order.
Selvi, one of the coordinators of the trip, said they are determined to visit Sabarimala to secure their rights.
The BJP, the Congress and other Hindu outfits in Kerala oppose the entry of women in the shrine, while the CPM government says it is ready to implement the Supreme Court order.
However, no woman below the age of 50 has gained entry during the annual pilgrimage seasons that began in mid-November.
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