Sabarimala Opening Updates: Door of shrine opens; Women above 50 years of age enter, rest kept out

Sabarimala Temple Opening: The temple doors were opened for the first time after the Supreme Court's verdict allowing entry of women of all age groups, however, women aged between 10-50 years could not be seen entering the temple on the first day due to widespread unrest in the region.

Image: ANi

New Delhi: Amid violent protests and attacks on women, journalists, the doors of Sabarimala temple opened at 5 pm today.  The devotees can offer prayers till 10.30 pm today. The portals will remain open till 22nd October. Though women aged above 50 years were seen entering the temple, those between 10-50 years could not arrive due to security concerns. The protesters checking and blocking entry of women clashed with police at Nilakal, the base camp, which is about 20 km from the hill temple. The Lord Ayyappa devotees, who are opposing the decision of Kerala government to implement the Supreme Court's order of lifting a ban on entry of women of menstrual age into the temple, were lathi-charged by the police. The protesters also included women. Some women were also reportedly injured during the melee. The protesters also resorted to stone pelting as tension continued to grip area. The Lord Ayyappa temple has opened for the first time since the apex court allowed entry of women of all age today at 5pm. It was opened for the five-day-monthly pooja of the Malayalam month of Thulam. Police beat a Hindu activist as he pleads for his own safety as protesters rallied against a Supreme Court verdict revoking a ban on women's entry to a Hindu temple, in Nilackal in southern Kerala state on October 17, 2018. - Clashes erupted in India on October 17 as traditionalists tried to stop women visiting one of Hinduism's most sacred temples, with police waving batons charging stone-throwing protestors. Devotees opposed to allowing women into the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala in the southern state of Kerala earlier surrounded and intimidated journalists, including one from AFP. (Photo by ARUN SANKAR / AFP)

Here are the updates:

• Women above 50 years were seen entering the temple, however, women aged between 10-50 years didn't arrive due to security concerns.

Kerala:Women above 50 yrs of age were seen entering #SabarimalaTemple this evening.Women b/w 10-50 yrs of age didn't arrive there today due to security concerns,in the light of protests opposing entry of women of all age groups at the temple.Its portals will stay open till Oct 22 pic.twitter.com/aG8bSYW6SL

— ANI (@ANI) October 17, 2018

•  A bus, carrying journalists among other passengers, was vandalised at Laka near Nilakkal base camp by protesters this evening. Stones were pelted on the bus.

 

• Kerala: Section 144 (prohibits assembly of more than 4 people in an area) has been imposed in Pampa, Nilakkal, Sannidhanam and Elavungal.

Kerala: Section 144 (prohibits assembly of more than 4 people in an area) has been imposed in Pampa, Nilakkal, Sannidhanam and Elavungal. #SabarimalaTemple pic.twitter.com/T6hkklywoT

— ANI (@ANI) October 17, 2018

#WATCH #Kerala: Police personnel vandalise vehicles parked in Pampa. Incidents of violence had broken out today in parts of the state over the entry of women of all age groups in #SabarimalaTemple. pic.twitter.com/xi3H4f5UUU

— ANI (@ANI) October 17, 2018

• Doors of Sabarimala were opened at 5pm. No woman has so far entered the temple, reports say.
• Visuals of India Today journalist Mausami Singh and its crew in a police vehicle. They were attacked by the protesters at Nilakkal base camp.

#WATCH: India Today journalist Mausami Singh and its crew in a police vehicle. They were attacked by the protesters at Nilakkal base camp. #SabarimalaTemple #Kerala pic.twitter.com/R7rsSBK8fx

— ANI (@ANI) October 17, 2018

#WATCH: Police lathi-charge and pelt stones at the protesters gathered at Nilakkal base camp, in Kerala. #SabarimalaTemple pic.twitter.com/DMC1ePz0l2

— ANI (@ANI) October 17, 2018

• I can predict what is going on there, I think it is intentional,it's dirty politics they (protesters) are playing. We can't say if they are actual devotees. Supreme Court's order is Constitutional & govt is bound to implement it: K K Shailaja, Kerala Minister - ANI
• A woman journalist of an English TV news channel covering the Sabarimala protests was reportedly attacked by a mob at the Nilakkal base camp.
• 50 people have been taken into custody in Pathanamthitta district for protesting against entry of women in age group 10 to 50 to Sabarimala temple - ANI

Pamba: Police detain people protesting against the entry of women in the age group of 10-50 women to Kerala's #SabarimalaTemple pic.twitter.com/DLdoYMVz8J

— ANI (@ANI) October 17, 2018

#WATCH: Women protest in Nilakkal against the entry of women in the age group of 10-50 to #Sabarimala temple. #Kerala pic.twitter.com/GuxDZo0R7G

— ANI (@ANI) October 17, 2018

• Protests being held near Pamba base camp against the entry of women in the age group 10-50.
• Pilgrims begin arriving at Nilakkal, the base camp of Sabarimala Temple.
• Total 1000 security personnel, 800 men and 200 women, deployed at Nillekal and Pampa base. 500 security personnel deployed at Sannidhanam.

• Kerala: Visuals of heavy security deployment near Nilakkal, the base camp of Sabarimala Temple as the portals of the temple are all set to open today.
• Devotees of Lord Ayyappa who have gathered at Nilakkal, the base camp of Sabarimala Temple as the gate of the temple is all set to open today, say, "We are facing problems as administration is not giving clear answers on when doors will open."