Protests in Kerala against SC verdict on Sabarimala

Hundreds of devotees and members of various Hindu outfits on Tuesday staged protests in different parts of the state against the Supreme Court judgment which allowed women of all ages to enter the Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala.

In Pandalam, members of the erstwhile royal family – custodian of the temple jewels – led a protest that saw a huge number of women joining in, singing hymns in a show of dissent, and stating that traditions of the temple should not be tampered with. The family has said it would seek legal counsel on possibilities to counter the court judgment.

In Thiruvananthapuram, hundreds gathered around to protest the apex court’s September 28 judgment that lifted restrictions on women aged between 10 and 50 years from entering the shrine. Rahul Easwar, president of Ayyappa Dharma Sena and member of the tantri (head priest) family, and Prayar Gopalakrishnan, former president of the Travancore Devaswom Board, were among the protesters. Protests were also held in Palakkad and Kochi, where the stir also led to a road blockade.

The monthly pujas are set to be held in Sabarimala between October 17 and 22. Even as the CPM-led state government prepares for women’s entry with an expansive plan for new amenities, Hindu outfits and devotees who favour status quo on ritualistic traditions could pose a challenge.

The state unit of the BJP is set to step up its protests against the verdict, from Wednesday. The Opposition Congress has also urged the state government to not “rush” in implementing the order.