PTI, SANNIDHANM (KER): A calm atmosphere at the Lord Ayyappa shrine in Sabarimala marked the second day of the two month-long annual pilgrimage season, even as the rest of Kerala witnessed protests against the arrest of BJP General Secretary K Surendran while on his way to the temple.
The Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages the shrine, will file a petition in the Supreme Court Monday seeking more time to implement the court’s Sept 28 verdict allowing women of all ages to offer worship at the shrine, board president A Padmakumar said.
So far, no women in the 10-50 age group has sought police protection to trek the holy hills, though over 500 odd young women have made online bookings for darshan. Facing flak over inadequate facilities and severe restrictions for devotees at the temple complex, Padmakumar also said no unnecessary curbs would be there and the “small issues” being faced now should be seen as “starting troubles”.
Briefing reporters at Thiruvananthapuram after a meeting with DGP Loknath Behara and M V Jayarajan, the Private Secretary to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, he said the devotees would be allowed.
