Master Stroke: Sabarimala shrine opens but women still kept out

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 remain open till 22nd October. 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.