Heavy rain blocks Woman’s Journey to Shabarimalai Temple

Heavy rain blocks Woman’s Journey to  Shabarimalai Temple

Shabarimalai: SP Manju, a Dalit woman activist, who was planning to visit the Sabarimala shrine Saturday, 20^th October 2018, told the Kerala police she would retreat shortly after her journey was stalled following heavy rain at the hilltop.

The woman, who is the general secretary of a Kerala-based Dalit outfit, had to halt her historic trek for the day because of heavy rains in the region. It was said that she would resume the pilgrimage on Sunday, 21^st October 2018 under heavy police protection, provided she passes a ‘background check’.

However, later, Police said that woman told them she will not continue her journey towards Temple.


Embarking on the journey, the woman had clarified that she had come to the Lord Ayyappa shrine as a devotee and not as an activist.


Kerala police said that, SP Manju has 14 cases against her and that she told them she is going back.


As reports of yet another woman attempting to make it to the shrine reached devotees at the temple, they again trooped to the entry point. Protesting devotees also lined the trekking path to the hilltop.


Devotees thought she was under 50. She was allowed to proceed when she showed her identity card which proved her age.


Saturday was the fourth day since the temple gates were opened for the monthly puja after the Supreme Court last month lifted a ban on women between 10 and 50 years entering the Lord Ayyappa shrine.