Rumours spark protest at Sabarimala

Sabarimala (Kerala), October 20 

A massive protest by devotees of Lord Ayyappa broke out near the Sabarimala Sannidhanam Saturday following rumours that a woman from Tamil Nadu below 50 years of age climbed the hills to offer prayers to the presiding deity.

The situation turned tense in the area, where section 144 was clamped, as devotees gathered in large numbers at ‘Valiya Nadapandhal’ to protest against the woman’s entry into the temple.

However, the tension was defused after the woman, who had come with her family members, convinced the protesters that she was above 50 years, and proceeded to the shrine. 

The woman carrying ‘irumudikkettu’ (holy bundle) climbed the 18 holy steps amid security cover to reach the temple and have ‘darshan’. Meanwhile, Pathanamthitta District Collector P B Nooh said there was no tension at Sannidhanam.

“A woman came for darshan. Some news channels followed her... then a crowd gathered...That was the only issue,” he said. The collector also dismissed as “rumours” reports that some young women were planning to trek the hills to reach the shrine.

“There were some rumours (spread) through social media. We verified them...There is no confirmed report (on young women visiting the shrine) so far,” Nooh said. A Dalit woman activist, who was planning to visit the Sabarimala shrine Saturday, has put her plans on hold following heavy rain and is camping here.

The police are verifying the background of Manju, leader of Dalit Mahila Federation and said to be in her late 30s. A decision regarding her trekking will be taken Sunday morning, sources said.  If she reaches the shrine, she would be the first woman from the menstruating age group to visit the temple after the apex court verdict last month. It is the responsibility of the administration to facilitate the darshan of Lord Ayyappa for all devotees, the collector asserted. 

The Sabarimala temple complex had witnessed high drama and tense moments Friday when two women reached the hilltop with heavy police escort, but had to return before reaching the sanctum sanctorum following massive protests by Lord Ayyappa devotees. — PTI 

Fathima’s Kochi house ransacked 

• Activist Rehana Fathima’s house was allegedly vandalised by unidentified persons while she was attempting to reach the Ayyappa temple  on Friday, the police said
• She had made a failed attempt to reach the temple with heavy police protection. Attackers reached Fatima's house in Panambilly Nagar here while she was climbing the hills
• Fathima, who was part of ‘Kiss of Love’ movement in 2014, was among the two women who had reached the hilltop but had to return following massive protests
• Fathima had kicked up a row last year by posing for topless photos with watermelons