Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 3 (Zee News): The Kerala government on Wednesday said that it won't file a review petition challenging the Supreme Court order allowing women of all ages to enter and worship at the famous hill shrine at Sabarimala.
News agency ANI quoted Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as saying, ''Kerala government will not file a review petition on the Sabarimala verdict. We will ensure facilities and protection to women devotees visiting the Sabarimala temple.''
The Chief Minister added that women police personnel from Kerala and neighbouring states will be deputed to ensure law and order in and around the temple premises.
''Women who want to go to Sabarimala cannot be stopped,'' Vijayan said.
On October 28, a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra had lifted the ban on entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine.
While the SC ruling was welcomed by several women's rights group, it was criticised by several others.
The Travancore Devaswom Board also opposed the entry of women into the temple. Board's president A Padmakumar on Sunday said “real women devotees” of Lord Ayyappa are unlikely to visit the Sabarimala temple and only “women activists” will undertake the pilgrimage.
The members of the Pandalam Royal family, which has rights over rituals conducted in Sabarimala, have said they would file a review petition against the Supreme Court’s verdict.
One of the members, RR Varma, said, “Sabarimala was the family temple of Pandalam Royal Family and we handed it over to the government. The court has not fully analysed the situation in Sabarimala. The verdict has insulted the faithful.’’
Meanwhile, hundreds of Ayyappa devotees, including women, had blocked state and national highways in various parts of Kerala on Tuesday protesting the recent Supreme Court verdict.
The 'Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad' (International Hindu organisation), an outfit launched by Praveen Togadia after being sidelined from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, was among the outfits which launched the protests.
In the state capital, the activists squatted on the road at Killipalam from 11 AM to 12 AM, chanting Ayyappa mantras, but allowed ambulances and vehicles carrying patients to pass.
Ambili, a woman activist from Idukki, doused herself with petrol but was immediately whisked away by police.
The activists held aloft placards, stating that the court was not bigger than Lord Ayyappa and demanded that the state and central government enact suitable legislation to maintain the age old ban.
Rahul Easwar, activist and President of Ayyappa Dharma Sena, took out a march from Hanuman Kovil to Palayam here.
In Pandalam in Pathnamthitta district, the Ayyappa Dharma Samrakshana Samithi led a march under the leadership of the Pandalam Royal family and observed Tuesday as 'Ayyappa Dharma Samrakshana' (Save Lord Ayyappa) day.
A march was taken out from the medical mission junction to the Pandalam Ayyappa temple, in which thousands of people, including women took part, chanting 'Ayyappa Sarnam' and demanded a review of the Supreme Court verdict.
The Pandalam Palace Nirvahaka Sangam denied some social media reports that the Pandalam palace would not hand over the "thiruvabharanam" (sacred ornaments worn by Lord Ayyappa) to temple authorities during the Makaravilakku festival, to protest against the court verdict.
Roads were blocked at Kollam, Alapuzha, Palakkad and Kochi.
The AHP said it would also begin taking signatures from believers visiting temples against the verdict.
Comment on this article
RkR, Mangalore/ Dubai
Wed, Oct 03 2018Referring to Sabarimala temple - there would be change other religious body too.
Hinduism illustrates women as important figures that play an important role in understanding how the world works, women in Hindu society have been overlooked and their importance has been diminished throughout time due to outside forces that cause "girls being made to feel lesser and not as important as boys"
Christianity- Although women are spiritual equals with men and the ministry of women is essential to the body of Christ, women are excluded from leadership over men in the church.
Islam- Women have restrictions on public prayer and are either banned from mosques or have separate private spaces.
Sikhs have had an obligation to treat women as equals, and gender discrimination in Sikh society has not been allowed. However, gender equality has been difficult to achieve.
Buddhist traditions still have underlying issues pertaining to gender roles.
Jew-Women were highly regarded within the Jewish community because they were capable of a great degree of "binah"
Equality among Men and Woman ? Except saying things
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Truth Teller, Karnataka
Wed, Oct 03 2018What's the problem with you!?. Why you are bothered about other religions!. This desicion about Sabarimala temple is taken by the Indian SC comprising of Hindus and not by a Saudi or European court!. If you have any issues please approach the court!. Instead of doing that , why do you want to talk of other religions!?
Extremely foolish argument!
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HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain
Wed, Oct 03 2018let's see the power of supreme Court for entry of women in mosques....
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Mohammed, Mangalore
Wed, Oct 03 2018Dear Henry, You are in Bahrain and you must know well that in Islam there is ban women entering mosque. Islam kept upto women if they want they can go mosque or they can pray in home.
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