New Delhi:
Amid protests and political furore over the Supreme Court's path-breaking verdict allowing women of menstrual age group to worship Lord Ayyappa, the Sabarimala Temple gates are thrown open for 62-day long Mandala Pooja - Magaravilaku annual pilgrimage season this evening. However, the Supreme Court's Sabarimala judgement has had zero impact as gender barrier is yet to be bulldozed at the Kerala shrine. Activist Trupti Desai, the chief of the Bhumata Brigade, who arrived at Kochi to visit Sabarimala Temple this morning was blocked from leaving for the hill shrine. The high-octane religious drama at the airport does not seem to end the centuries old struggle for justice and dignity of women anytime soon.
Here are the LIVE updates from Sabarimala opening:
Protestors threatened taxi drivers from providing us services. Hotel staff was threatened of damage to hotels if rooms were given to us. It saddens me to see that ppl who call themselves Ayyappa devotees are abusing and threatening us: Trupti Desai at Kochi airport
Protestors threatened taxi drivers from providing us services.Hotel staff was threatened of damage to hotels if rooms were given to us. It saddens me to see that ppl who call themselves Ayyappa devotees are abusing&threatening us: Trupti Desai at Kochi airport. #SabarimalaTemple pic.twitter.com/Q9CZrJZsPc
— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2018
Trupti Desai is leaving for Mumbai by 9:25 pm Kochi to Mumbai flight
#Kerala: Visuals of Trupti Desai from Kochi airport; she will return to her hometown Pune tonight after protesters did not allow her to proceed to #SabarimalaTemple. pic.twitter.com/EUHG3CIH9U
— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2018
Trupti Desai to return to her hometown Pune tonight. She has been at the Kochi airport since morning as protesters did not allow her to proceed to Sabarimala Temple
Trupti Desai to return to her hometown Pune tonight. She has been at the Kochi airport since morning as protesters did not allow her to proceed to #SabarimalaTemple. (File pic) pic.twitter.com/R6BomXn3Q8
— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2018
The Makaravilakku festival would be celebrated on January 14 after which the shrine will close on January 20, marking the culmination of the pilgrim season
The temple would reopen for the Makaravilakku festival on December 30
The 41-day mandalam festival will conclude on December 27 after Mandala pooja, when the shrine will close after the'Athazhapuja' in the evening
Sabarimala temple board to move the Supreme Court asking for more time to implement order on entry of menstrual age women - Read Full Story Here
Devotees throng to Sabarimala Temple as the Kerala shrine opened at 5 pm in the presence of head priest Kandararu Rajeevaru.
#Kerala: Devotees throng to #SabarimalaTemple as it opens for 62-day long Mandala Pooja-Magaravilaku annual pilgrimage season. pic.twitter.com/wzOcekQzbh
— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2018
Sabarimala Karma Samithi holds protest against Trupti Desai in Kerala's Trivandrum
Sabarimala Karma Samithi holds protest against Trupti Desai in #Kerala's Trivandrum. #SabarimalaTemple pic.twitter.com/cV6aNeZJoP
— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2018
Kerala: Sabarimala Temple opens for 62-day long Mandala Pooja - Magaravilaku annual pilgrimage season
#Kerala: #SabarimalaTemple opens for 62-day long Mandala Pooja-Magaravilaku annual pilgrimage season. pic.twitter.com/hTqqmVdzDg
— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2018