Faced with unrelenting protests from devotees, two women in their forties, who tried to trek to the hill shrine of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/group-of-11-women-devotees-return-from-sabarimala-amid-intensifying-protests-186015">Lord Ayyappa</a> here Monday returned without offering prayers.

The attempt by the two women - Bindu and Kanakdurga - came a day after a group of 11 women activists of "Manithi", a Chennai-based outfit unsuccessfully tried to make it to the shrine.

The two women, who reached Pamba at around 4 am, faced massive protests from devotees at Apachimedu and Marakootam, about one km from the 'Sannidhanam' (temple complex), as they were being escorted by police.

Ayyappa devotees surged in large numbers to the narrow pathway while the women were being escorted, and there was a minor scuffle with the police for over an hour.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Visuals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Visuals</a> Two women devotees are being brought back to Pampa base camp following protests. They were stopped by protesters at Appachimedu, two kilometres away from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SabarimalaTemple?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SabarimalaTemple</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kerala?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kerala</a> <a href="https://t.co/PQEu94C2Ay">pic.twitter.com/PQEu94C2Ay</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1077080540677836801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Police tried to evict the pilgrims who shouted "go back" and chanted Ayyappa mantras and a tense situation prevailed with the restive devotees showing no signs of backing off.

Seeing the growing number of protesters, including young children and to prevent the situation from getting out of hand, the women were advised to return by the police.

The women were earlier stopped at Appachimedu, a place en route Sabarimala, by protesters, who were later evicted by police.

The BJP also held a protest in front of the houses of the two women against their attempt to trek the hill.

Amid reports that Kandakdurga had complained of uneasiness and that she had fainted, Bindu told reporters that it was only a "ploy" to stall their progress to Sabarimala and there was nothing wrong with her.

Bindu alleged the police had forcibly prevented them from reaching the shrine.

Both the women, who trekked nearly 4.5 km, were taken to a hospital in an ambulance for a medical check-up.

Earlier, Bindu told reporters that "our demand is that government implement the September 28 verdict of the Supreme Court. We should be allowed to go to the shrine. We have not done any wrong and are not doing anything illegal."

The women had claimed they had not sought police protection, but it was the responsibility of the police to provide security.

"We have not asked for police protection. The Supreme Court has given a verdict. So it is the government's duty to help us climb the hills", Bindu said.

Since the top court verdict, no women in the 10-50 age group, who are traditionally barred from entering the shrine, have been able to enter the 'sannidhanam' and offer worship to the presiding deity Lord Ayyappa, who is a "Naishtika Brahmachari" (perennial celibate).

Kerala had witnessed massive protests by devotees opposing the entry of girls and women in the 10-50 age group into the shrine after the CPI(M)-led LDF government decided to implement the top court verdict allowing all women to offer prayers at the temple.

The main opposition Congress-led UDF and BJP is opposing the entry of young women, saying they are with the devotees.

Four transgenders recently offered prayers at the temple while the attempt by over a dozen young women has been foiled by protesting devotees so far. 
The two-month long pilgrim season at the Sabarimala Temple began on November 16 and the first phase will end on December 27.

The shrine has been witnessing the heavy rush of pilgrims since the past few days.

Faced with unrelenting protests from devotees, two women in their forties, who tried to trek to the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa here Monday returned without offering prayers.

Faced with unrelenting protests from devotees, two women in their forties, who tried to trek to the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa here Monday returned without offering prayers. The attempt by the two women - Bindu and Kanakdurga - came a day after a group of 11 women activists of "Manithi", a Chennai-based outfit unsuccessfully tried to make it to the shrine. The two women, who reached Pamba at around 4 am, faced massive protests from devotees at Apachimedu and Marakootam, about one km from the 'Sannidhanam' (temple complex), as they were being escorted by police. Ayyappa devotees surged in large numbers to the narrow pathway while the women were being escorted, and there was a minor scuffle with the police for over an hour. #Visuals Two women devotees are being brought back to Pampa base camp following protests. They were stopped by protesters at Appachimedu, two kilometres away from #SabarimalaTemple. #Kerala pic.twitter.com/PQEu94C2Ay — ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2018 × Police tried to evict the pilgrims who shouted "go back" and chanted Ayyappa mantras and a tense situation prevailed with the restive devotees showing no signs of backing off. Seeing the growing number of protesters, including young children and to prevent the situation from getting out of hand, the women were advised to return by the police. The women were earlier stopped at Appachimedu, a place en route Sabarimala, by protesters, who were later evicted by police. The BJP also held a protest in front of the houses of the two women against their attempt to trek the hill. Amid reports that Kandakdurga had complained of uneasiness and that she had fainted, Bindu told reporters that it was only a "ploy" to stall their progress to Sabarimala and there was nothing wrong with her. Bindu alleged the police had forcibly prevented them from reaching the shrine. Both the women, who trekked nearly 4.5 km, were taken to a hospital in an ambulance for a medical check-up. Earlier, Bindu told reporters that "our demand is that government implement the September 28 verdict of the Supreme Court. We should be allowed to go to the shrine. We have not done any wrong and are not doing anything illegal." The women had claimed they had not sought police protection, but it was the responsibility of the police to provide security. "We have not asked for police protection. The Supreme Court has given a verdict. So it is the government's duty to help us climb the hills", Bindu said. Since the top court verdict, no women in the 10-50 age group, who are traditionally barred from entering the shrine, have been able to enter the 'sannidhanam' and offer worship to the presiding deity Lord Ayyappa, who is a "Naishtika Brahmachari" (perennial celibate). Kerala had witnessed massive protests by devotees opposing the entry of girls and women in the 10-50 age group into the shrine after the CPI(M)-led LDF government decided to implement the top court verdict allowing all women to offer prayers at the temple. The main opposition Congress-led UDF and BJP is opposing the entry of young women, saying they are with the devotees. Four transgenders recently offered prayers at the temple while the attempt by over a dozen young women has been foiled by protesting devotees so far. The two-month long pilgrim season at the Sabarimala Temple began on November 16 and the first phase will end on December 27. The shrine has been witnessing the heavy rush of pilgrims since the past few days.

Kerala: Women worshippers again made to return from Sabarimala shrine

Amid mounting tension in Kerala over the issue of women's entry into Sabarimala temple, the Congress on Sunday accused the CPI(M)-led state government of creating a 'terror-like atmosphere' in the name of security of the hill shrine.

The Congress levelled the allegation as a three-member party delegation comprising former state ministers Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Adoor Prakash and V S Sivakumar left for Sabarimala to study the situation there.

"The Sabarimala Sannidhanam has virtually turned into a fortress, where the entry of devotees of Lord Ayyappa are being restricted," Radhakrishnan, who is also a legislator, told reporters here.

Prakash, representing the Konni Assembly constituency, claimed that heavy police deployment at Sabarimala was disrupting the normal flow of devotees.

"The government, using the police force, is creating a terror-like atmosphere in the name of ensuring security of the Lord Ayyappa shrine," he alleged.

Sivakumar, a former Devaswom minister, alleged that the government had not taken any step to provide basic facilities for the huge number of pilgrims visiting the temple.

The MLA from Thiruvananthapuram said devotees face a lot of hardship due to lack of basic facilities at Nilackal, Pamba and Sannidhanam.

Before heading to Sabarimala, the Congress leaders alleged that the state government was not interested in setting up necessary infrastructure and security for the pilgrims and instead was only interested in creating hardships for them.

Amid tight security, thousands of pilgrims paid their obeisance at the Lord Ayyappa shrine on Saturday, which was also the first day of Malayalam month 'Vrischikom'. The temple opened on Friday evening for the two-month annual pilgrimage season even as the stand-off over entry of women of menstruating age into the temple continued.

The temple complex and nearby areas had witnessed protests by devotees when it was opened for monthly pujas for eight days in October and early this month against the LDF government's attempt to implement the apex court verdict allowing women of all age groups to pray at the shrine.

Social activist Trupti Desai, who arrived at Kochi airport Friday en route Sabarimala, was forced to return to Maharashtra after she faced an over 13-hour protest.

Amid mounting tension in Kerala over the issue of women's entry into Sabarimala temple, the Congress on Sunday accused the CPI(M)-led state government of creating a 'terror-like atmosphere' in the name of security of the hill shrine.

Amid mounting tension in Kerala over the issue of women's entry into Sabarimala temple, the Congress on Sunday accused the CPI(M)-led state government of creating a 'terror-like atmosphere' in the name of security of the hill shrine. The Congress levelled the allegation as a three-member party delegation comprising former state ministers Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Adoor Prakash and V S Sivakumar left for Sabarimala to study the situation there. "The Sabarimala Sannidhanam has virtually turned into a fortress, where the entry of devotees of Lord Ayyappa are being restricted," Radhakrishnan, who is also a legislator, told reporters here. Prakash, representing the Konni Assembly constituency, claimed that heavy police deployment at Sabarimala was disrupting the normal flow of devotees. "The government, using the police force, is creating a terror-like atmosphere in the name of ensuring security of the Lord Ayyappa shrine," he alleged. Sivakumar, a former Devaswom minister, alleged that the government had not taken any step to provide basic facilities for the huge number of pilgrims visiting the temple. The MLA from Thiruvananthapuram said devotees face a lot of hardship due to lack of basic facilities at Nilackal, Pamba and Sannidhanam. Before heading to Sabarimala, the Congress leaders alleged that the state government was not interested in setting up necessary infrastructure and security for the pilgrims and instead was only interested in creating hardships for them. Amid tight security, thousands of pilgrims paid their obeisance at the Lord Ayyappa shrine on Saturday, which was also the first day of Malayalam month 'Vrischikom'. The temple opened on Friday evening for the two-month annual pilgrimage season even as the stand-off over entry of women of menstruating age into the temple continued. The temple complex and nearby areas had witnessed protests by devotees when it was opened for monthly pujas for eight days in October and early this month against the LDF government's attempt to implement the apex court verdict allowing women of all age groups to pray at the shrine. Social activist Trupti Desai, who arrived at Kochi airport Friday en route Sabarimala, was forced to return to Maharashtra after she faced an over 13-hour protest.

CPI(M)-led Kerala govt creating terror-like atmosphere in name of security of Sabarimala temple: Congress

Women police personnel will be posted at Sabarimala this month to facilitate pilgrimage of women devotees in view of the Supreme Court order permitting women of all age groups to enter the Lord Ayyappa shrine, Kerala police chief Loknath Behera said Friday.

The DGP said everyone in the force should have to perform their duties irrespective of their religion and politics.

"They (women) will be posted there (at Sabarimala). We are a law enforcement agency. No gender, no religion. .. Nothing. All will have to perform their duties," Behera told reporters here.

His statement comes against the backdrop of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's recent statement that the government would implement the verdict in the coming pilgrimage season itself.

A high-level meeting of the Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages the shrine, has also decided to make necessary arrangements for women pilgrims visiting the temple when it opens for the annual pilgrimage season on October 16.

The Nair Service Society (NSS), Pandalam Royal family and family of the temple's chief priest have said they would file revision petitions in the apex court against its order.

The Sabarimala temple had restricted the entry of women belonging to the age group of 10-50 as part of its age-old tradition.

On October 28, a five-judge constitution bench, headed by the then Chief Justice Dipak Misra, lifted the ban on entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine.&nbsp;

Women police personnel will be posted at Sabarimala this month to facilitate pilgrimage of women devotees in view of the Supreme Court order permitting women of all age groups to enter the Lord Ayyappa shrine, Kerala police chief Loknath Behera said Friday.

Women police personnel will be posted at Sabarimala this month to facilitate pilgrimage of women devotees in view of the Supreme Court order permitting women of all age groups to enter the Lord Ayyappa shrine, Kerala police chief Loknath Behera said Friday. The DGP said everyone in the force should have to perform their duties irrespective of their religion and politics. "They (women) will be posted there (at Sabarimala). We are a law enforcement agency. No gender, no religion. .. Nothing. All will have to perform their duties," Behera told reporters here. His statement comes against the backdrop of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's recent statement that the government would implement the verdict in the coming pilgrimage season itself. A high-level meeting of the Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages the shrine, has also decided to make necessary arrangements for women pilgrims visiting the temple when it opens for the annual pilgrimage season on October 16. The Nair Service Society (NSS), Pandalam Royal family and family of the temple's chief priest have said they would file revision petitions in the apex court against its order. The Sabarimala temple had restricted the entry of women belonging to the age group of 10-50 as part of its age-old tradition. On October 28, a five-judge constitution bench, headed by the then Chief Justice Dipak Misra, lifted the ban on entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine.

Women cops to be posted at Sabarimala: DGP

The famous hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa in Kerala would continue to be known by the name &quot;Sabrimala Sree Dharma Sashtha Temple&quot; as its management today decided to reject its rechristening as proposed by the previous body constituted by the UDF regime.

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which manages the temple that attracts lakhs of devotees, met here and resolved to quash the decision of the previous board taken in 2016 to rename the shrine as &#39;Sree Ayyappa Swami Temple&#39;, TDB President A Padmakumar told reporters here.

The previous board&#39;s decision to rename the shrine was then seen as a move to ensure a favourable verdict for the TDB in a case pending in Supreme Court seeking entry of all women into the temple, where women in the age group of 10-50 are banned.

It was then felt that a unique name for Sabarimala shrine would help the TDB&#39;s cause as there were many temples in the name of &#39;Dharma Sastha&#39; in the state where women are allowed, which could be cited by the litigants in support of their demand.

When asked about the present TDB&#39;s stand on women entry, Padmakumar said as per the existing rule women in the age group of 10-50 were not allowed and &quot;we stand by it&quot;.

On the case in the apex court, he said let the legal matter take its course and &quot;there is no justification to change the name of the temple&quot;.

The present TDB was reconstituted by the CPI-M led LDF government, which had opposed the decision of the previous board headed by Prayar Gopalakrishnan.

Padmakumar said the decision to rename the temple was taken by the previous board without proper discussions and there was no rationale behind it.

On other decisions taken today at the TDB meeting, he said the work on the proposed rope-way to carry cargo to the hill shrine would be started soon.

The four-km rope-way would connect the Pamba, at the foothills, and Manimandapam at the hill temple complex.

Lakhs of Ayyappa devotees across the country and abroad visit the shrine during the three-month Mandala-Makaravillaku festival season from November to January.

The first phase of Mandala festival of the current season ended on December 26 last and Makaravillku is on January 14.

&nbsp;

The famous hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa in Kerala would continue to be known by the name 'Sabrimala Sree Dharma Sashtha Temple' as its management today decided to reject its rechristening as proposed by the previous body constituted by the UDF regime

The famous hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa in Kerala would continue to be known by the name "Sabrimala Sree Dharma Sashtha Temple" as its management today decided to reject its rechristening as proposed by the previous body constituted by the UDF regime. The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which manages the temple that attracts lakhs of devotees, met here and resolved to quash the decision of the previous board taken in 2016 to rename the shrine as 'Sree Ayyappa Swami Temple', TDB President A Padmakumar told reporters here. The previous board's decision to rename the shrine was then seen as a move to ensure a favourable verdict for the TDB in a case pending in Supreme Court seeking entry of all women into the temple, where women in the age group of 10-50 are banned. It was then felt that a unique name for Sabarimala shrine would help the TDB's cause as there were many temples in the name of 'Dharma Sastha' in the state where women are allowed, which could be cited by the litigants in support of their demand. When asked about the present TDB's stand on women entry, Padmakumar said as per the existing rule women in the age group of 10-50 were not allowed and "we stand by it". On the case in the apex court, he said let the legal matter take its course and "there is no justification to change the name of the temple". The present TDB was reconstituted by the CPI-M led LDF government, which had opposed the decision of the previous board headed by Prayar Gopalakrishnan. Padmakumar said the decision to rename the temple was taken by the previous board without proper discussions and there was no rationale behind it. On other decisions taken today at the TDB meeting, he said the work on the proposed rope-way to carry cargo to the hill shrine would be started soon. The four-km rope-way would connect the Pamba, at the foothills, and Manimandapam at the hill temple complex. Lakhs of Ayyappa devotees across the country and abroad visit the shrine during the three-month Mandala-Makaravillaku festival season from November to January. The first phase of Mandala festival of the current season ended on December 26 last and Makaravillku is on January 14.

Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa shrine to retain its name