The gates of the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala were thrown open amid tight security for the two-month-long Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season. Devotees, who were allowed to trek the hill from 2pm, climbed the sacred 18 steps to the temple with the “irumudikettu (sacred bag containing the offerings to Ayyappa)” after the priests performed the “padi” puja. Sudheer Namboodiri (Sabarimala) and M.S. Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran has made it clear that Sabarimala is not a place for activists, saying the government will not encourage women who want to visit the shrine for publicity. Those who want to visit the temple can procure a court order to enter the temple, he said.

Source: The Telegraph November 16, 2019 12:11 UTC