New Delhi: Two women in their 40s on Wednesday entered Kerala's Sabarimala temple sparking violent clashes. It was the first time that women aged between 10 and 50 entered the Lord Ayyappa temple in Kerala since Supreme Court overturned a ban in September last year. The dramatic pre-dawn entry by the two women, Bindu and Kanaka Durga, helped by policemen wearing civilian clothes, led to angry reactions from opposition parties. Bindu and Kanaka Durga said they had 'darshan' at 3.30 am, away from the media glare. Protests erupted across Kerala soon after news of the women trekking to the hill shrine spread. The temple itself was closed for over an hour for "purification". Thiruvananthapuram underwent a tense standoff that has lasted over four hours, with neither side showing any sign of backing down.
Here are HIGHLIGHTS from Sabarimala Temple:
Jan 02, 2019 16:01 (IST)
Senior CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat says every woman has the right to worship at the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala in Kerala. "(The) two women wanted to worship and they were enabled to do so and given the security required (by the Kerala government)," the CPI(M) leader said.
Jan 02, 2019 14:03 (IST)
Both women, who entered the temple today, had tried to visit Sabarimala in the last week of December, but had been blocked by massive protests. The temple reopened on December 30 for the Makaravilakku festival and there has been a heavy rush of pilgrims since then.
Jan 02, 2019 12:06 (IST)
Sabarimala Temple reopens after "purification process", say Devaswom Board sources.
Jan 02, 2019 11:36 (IST)
"It is the responsibility of police to give protection to those who come and we did it. Verifying the age and other details is not our responsibility," says Kerala director general of police Lokanath Behera, according to news agency ANI.
Jan 02, 2019 11:00 (IST)
"We did not enter the shrine by climbing the 18 holy steps but went through the staff gate," one of the women told local media, according to news agency AFP.
Jan 02, 2019 10:51 (IST)
Confirming their visit, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said: "It is a fact that the women entered the shrine. Police are bound to offer protection to anyone wanting to worship at the shrine."
Jan 02, 2019 10:49 (IST)
Bindu and Kanaka Durga, both in their early 40s, entered the hilltop shrine early this morning around 3.45 am. A video accessed by NDTV shows the women hurrying into the shrine, dressed in all-black and escorted by the police. A group of protesters also appear to be at the spot.