SABARIMALA (Kerala): As the Supreme Court takes its time to come with a verdict on whether women should be allowed to enter the Sannidhanam at Kerala's Sabarimala temple, the devotees have already given their ruling. A 40 year old, Subramaniam, who took 36 days to walk to the temple all the way from Telangana, said, "There are men who don't follow the 41-day strict ritual as part of preparations, they just come one day before and visit Ayyappa. If Ayyappa is okay about blessing them, then why can't he bless women of all ages?"
He, however, found disagreement with his friend Satish Singh, who said that he left his daughter behind for the pilgrimage as she had begun menstruating. "Kerala government's decision is wrong. This is an old temple with old rituals and should be maintained. This is not any modern temple. Such tough rituals will only affect the health of women," Singh said. Several devotees believe that as Lord Ayyappa was a "brahmachari" (celibate), women of certain age group are best kept away from the shrine. Taking a crucial shift from the previous government's stand on the issue, the ruling LDF is for allowing women of all age into the temple.
Minister for Devaswom and electricity boards, Kadakamapally Surendran said, "Women of all age groups must be allowed. It's not about the difference of opinions, it's about equality."
