Sabarimala (Kerala): Protesters and Lord Ayyappa devotees hounded a woman devotee near Sabarimala Sannidhanam over rumours she was below the age of 50. The woman and her family members convinced the protesters that she was over 50 years old following which she carried the 'irumudikkettu' (holy bundle) amid security cover to reach the temple and pray to the deity. Tension has engulfed the area since the clamping of section 144.

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 was quoted by news agency PTI. 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. It is the responsibility of the administration to facilitate the darshan of Lord Ayyappa for all devotees, the collector asserted.

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On Friday two women arduously managed to reach the hilltop but were forced to return before reaching the sanctum sanctorum following severe protests by incensed Lord Ayyappa devotees. They are opposing the entry of girls and women of menstrual age into the Sabarimala temple since the Left-ruled government decided to implement Supreme Court’s order. The shrine was opened for the five-day monthly puja on October 17.