Sabarimala temple closes today: Despite SC order, entry of ‘barred’ women remains blocked

This month’s Sabrimala pilgrimage — the first after the Supreme Court lifted the ban on entry of women aged between 10 and 50 in the famed Kerala temple — will end at 10 pm on Monday, even as no woman previously barred could successfully step inside the shrine in the five days it remained open. The temple opened its doors for puja at 5 pm on October 17.
At least 12 women in the age group of 10-50 undertook the trek to the shrine of Lord Ayyapa in vain. Massive security cover could not prevail against the mounting protests by devotees and priests of the temple who blocked the entry, with the head priest-for the first time-threatening to lock the door of the temple if women attempted to enter.

More videos

See All