The LDF government in Kerala is facing an uphill task with the Supreme Court refusing to stay its own verdict allowing women of all age groups to enter the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala.
The temple and its base camps at Nilakkal and Pamba had witnessed violent protests when the shrine was opened for eight days in two spells after the September 28 verdict that lifted the ban on women of menstrual age. Attempts by dozen women to enter the shrine were foiled by protesters.
The two-month annual Mandala-Makkaravillakku season will start on November 16 evening and generally sees millions of devotees taking 6-km arduous trek to reach the hilltop shrine.
It remains to be seen whether girls and women in the traditionally 'banned' age group of 10-50 will be able to enter the shrine. Over 500
young women last week registered for darshan on the Kerala police website facilitating online queue. Their attempts to enter the shrine
and the counter protests will themselves pose a huge challenge for the Kerala government and the police.
The famed Makaravilaku is on January 14. However, the Supreme Court will again consider the petition on January 22, two days after the pilgrim season.
Meanwhile, the LDF government of Kerala has convened an all-party meeting on November 15 to discuss various issues related to the temple.
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Over 3,700 people have been arrested so far and 546 cases registered against various people for violence during protests across the state
after the top court's verdict. Tuesday's ruling was welcomed by the BJP, the Congress and the priests at the Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala. The apex court does not hear review petitions in open court except in the cases of capital punishment.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on his part said though the Supreme Court has not stayed its September 28 verdict, his government would take a final call on the issue after consulting legal experts.
