Kochi (Kerala): The Sabarimala temple was shut down for 'purification rites' on Wednesday after two women below the age of 50 are reported to have become the first female pilgrims of menstruating age to have entered and offered prayers at the Lord Ayyappa shrine in Sabarimala on Wednesday after the Supreme Court overturned a traditional ban on women's entry last year.  The chief priest of the temple performed a 'purification' ceremony after the women offered prayers, violating the tradition of the temple.

Bindu and Kanakdurga entered the holy temple of the Hindu deity Ayyappan and offered prayers at 3:45 am on Wednesday, reported news agency ANI.

The women — Bindu (42), a CPI(ML) activist from Koyilandy in Kozhikode district, and Kanakadurga (44), said to be a civil supplies employee from Angadipuram in Malappuram — claimed that they began climbing the steps to Lord Ayyappa shrine around midnight and reached the temple at 3:45 am for darshan. The duo released a video of their visit to the temple.

The women, in their early 40s, started their climb midnight and reached the temple post 3:45 am for darshan. After offering prayers, they left Sabarimala.

The women were accompanied by a small group of police personnel in civil and uniform. In the last week of December, two women had tried climbing up to Sabarimala but failed amidst massive protests.

Meanwhile, an umbrella organisation of various pro-Hindutva groups have called for a state-wide shutdown on Thursday, amid protests at several places in the state.