The Supreme Court lifted the ban on the entrance of women of menstrual age into the Sabarimala Temple a few months ago. Two women below the age of 50 have entered the temple becoming the first ones to do so after the ban being lifted. The temple authorities then shut the doors of the temple and said to open it after they did the “purification” of the shrine.
Bindu and Kanaka Durga who are in their early 40s entered the temple which is situated at the hilltop at around 3.45 am. The women were dressed in black and hurried into the temple with the protection of the police. There were several protestors which were also present at the spot.
The chief minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan said, “It is a fact that the women entered the shine. Police are bound to offer protection to anyone wanting to worship at the shrine.” After the women worshipped and left the temple, the authorities had shut the temple for approximately an hour and a half in order to “purify” the temple.
The women had secretly visited the temple in order to avoid as much conflict as they can. There were very few people at the shrine when the two arrived to worship Lord Ayyappa.