Stakeholders invited amid temple protests

Thiruvananthapuram, October 14

Amid continuing protests on the Sabarimala issue, a temple body which manages the Lord Ayyappa shrine today invited various stakeholders for a meeting to discuss "various aspects", including preparations for the annual pilgrimage season, beginning next month.

As Various Hindu outfits and Lord Ayyappa devotees have been staging protests over the last few days all over Kerala against implementation of the Supreme Court order, permitting women of all age groups into the shrine, the call for talks is considered an attempt for a consensus.

The Travancore Devaswom Board has invited tantries (temple priests), Pandalam royals and devotee groups to the meeting.

TDB president A Padmakumar said the meeting was scheduled for October 16.

Besides the Tazhamon tantri family and the Pandalam royals, various stakeholders of the Sabarimala shrine, including Ayyappa Seva Sangam, Ayyappa Seva Samajam, tantri mahamandalam and Yoga Kshema Sabah would be invited for the talks, he said.

"TDB has no prejudice over any matter related to Sabriamala... Let them come and share their views. We will take a suitable decision on all aspects regarding the temple after that," Padmakumar told reporters.

The members of the Padalam royal family and tazhamon tantries later said a collective decision would be taken soon on whether to attend the TDB meet or not.

Meanwhile, various devotee groups and Hindu outfits took out protest marches in different places across the state, demanding that the sanctity of the temple rituals be protected.

The BJP-led NDA's "Long March", which started last week from Pandalam in protest against the CPM-led LDF government's decision to implement the top court order without going for a review, reached the capital city Sunday.

AntarRashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP) president Pravin Togadia called for a  protest in the state on October 18 if the Left government implements the apex court order. — PTI