Sabarimala row: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan calls for all-party meet ahead of pilgrimage season

As the two-month-long annual ‘Mandala Makkaravillakku’ or pilgrimage season is set to start at Sabarimala temple, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday called for an all-party meeting to discuss row over the entry of women in menstruating ages.

The main agenda of all-party meeting is reviewing the arrangements made for devotees. It is to be noted that the two-month-long ‘Mandala Makaravillakku’ pilgrim season commences on November 17. Over 500 young women have registered for darshan in the online queue website of Kerala police last week.

On Wednesday, Activist Trupti Desai wrote a letter to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and sought protection to enter the Sabarimala temple.

On September 28, a five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court, headed by the then chief justice Dipak Misra, lifted the centuries-old ban on the entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine.

After the judgement, Kerala witnessed massive protests by Lord Ayyappa devotees opposing the entry of girls and women of menstrual age into the Sabarimala temple since the government decided to implement the Supreme Court order.

Over 3,000 people were arrested for creating a ruckus over the issue and over 500 people have been chargesheeted by the police for violence.

So far, no woman in the age group of 10-50 years has yet been able to visit Sabarimala temple since the top court’s order.

Also Read: Supreme Court refuses to stay its verdict allowing all women into Sabarimala temple