Ahead of Sabarimala temple opening on Oct 17, protests led by BJP rock Kerala capital

In another development, the Travancore Devaswom Board has convened a meeting of various stakeholders of the shrine including the Tantri (head priest) family, Pandalam royals and Ayyappa Seva Sangam here tomorrow, reported PTI. The meeting, called to discuss the preparations of the three-month-long annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrim season starting from November 17, was expected to discuss the recent Apex court order also.

FILE PIC - Members of an Indian Hindu outfit Hindu Sena shout slogans as they protest against the Supreme Court decision to allow women of all ages to enter inside the Kerala's Sabarimala temple, in New Delhi on October 4, 2018. - The temple, which is considered one of the holiest for Hindus, traditionally barred all women of menstruating age, between 10 and 50 from entering its premises. Last week India's top court revoked the ban following a decades-long legal battle and ruled that patriarchy cannot be allowed to trump faith. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP)

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s state capital is being kept tense by hundreds of Lord Ayyappa devotees protesting against the Supreme Court order allowing entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple. The protest which includes women as well is being supported by thousands of BJP activists who marched to the secretariat here to protest implementation of the highest court’s verdict.  The shrine will reopen on Wednesday for monthly rituals and devotees of Lord Ayappa are intensifying their protests saying the apex court has not protected the sanctity of the temple. BJP workers have accused the Left-government of conspiring to obliterate the temple by implementing the Supreme Court’s order.  The three-month-long pilgrim season is beginning mid-November and attracts the maximum footfall in the period, many of whom who come from foreign countries. The mammoth foot march began last week from Pandalam. The march saw a host of senior leaders of NDA including actor-turned MP, Suresh Gopi, Bharatiya Dharma Jana Sena chief Thushar Vellappally. It is being led by BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai. Pillai said if the state government failed to resolve the issue at the earliest, the BJP-NDA's agitation would take a new turn. "We will meet each villager in Kerala and chalk out a massive agitation plan to protect the Sabarimala Temple, its centuries-old traditions and the sentiments of Lord Ayyappa devotees," he was quoted by PTI.

Kerala: A protest march led by BJP is being carried out in Thiruvananthapuram against the Supreme Court verdict over the entry of women of all age group in #Sabarimala temple, ahead of the opening of its portals. pic.twitter.com/6G6SPG6C1g

— ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2018

In another development, the Travancore Devaswom Board has convened a meeting of various stakeholders of the shrine including the Tantri (head priest) family, Pandalam royals and Ayyappa Seva Sangam here tomorrow, reported PTI.  The meeting, called to discuss the preparations of the three-month-long annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrim season starting from November 17, was expected to discuss the recent Apex court order also. Reports say the Sabarimala Temple, opening on October 17 evening, would be closed on October 22 after the five-day monthly pooja of Malayalam month of 'Thulam'. A five-judge Constitution bench headed by then chief justice Dipak Misra lifted the ban on the entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine on September 28.