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Sabarimala temple has been reopened after “purification” rituals – Panjapunyaham and Kalasabhishekam – were held following the entry of two women, Bindhu and Kanaka Durga who are in their early 40s.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan confirmed the entry of the women saying that the government had issued standing orders to the police to provide all possible protection to any woman who wants to enter the temple.
The Kerala Police earlier reportedly stated that it was looking into media reports that two women in their forties had entered the Sabarimala temple early Wednesday, sources said.
According to TV channels, the two women, Kanakadurga, 42, and Bindu, 44, also claimed that they had entered the holy shrine of Lord Ayyappa. They made efforts to enter the shrine in December but had to return due to protests.
As per news reports, the women trekked to the hill shrine early. The said video showed them entering the shrine, wearing black clothes, with their heads covered.
The temple was opened on December 30 for the Makaravillaku festival and there has been a heavy rush of pilgrims. Travancore Devaswom Board President A Padmakumar said he had no information about the two women offering prayers at the temple.
TDB officials have been asked to view CCTV footage to verify their claim, he said. The temple had witnessed protests from frenzied devotees over the entry of women in the 10-50 age group in the shrine after the CPI(M)-led LDF government decided to implement a Supreme Court order allowing women of all age to offer prayers there.
The main opposition Congress-led UDF and the BJP have been opposing the entry of young women, saying they are with the devotees
