52 year old woman allowed inside Sabarimala temple after initial protests

A 52-year-old woman from Tamil Nadu was allowed to enter the Sabarimala temple on Saturday after facing initial protests, news reports said.

Latha who was accompanied by her husband and son to the temple was initially restricted from entering the premises as the protesters presumed her to be below 50 years.

She was stopped just as she was about to climb the hallowed 18 steps leading to the temple. 

52-year-old Latha was later allowed to enter the temple after the intervention of state BJP leader K. Surendran and others.

No woman has been allowed an entry into the temple till now despite the apex court's September 28 decision which puts a ban on the centuries-old practice that barred women of menstrual age (10-50 years) from entering the hill temple

High drama unfolded at the Sabarimala temple today after a 38-year-old woman, Manju, arrived at the sanctum to start trekking the last 5-km to the shrine.

She, however, later cancelled her plans due to rains and has decided to begin her trek tomorrow.

Manju who is the President of the Kerala Dalit Mahila Federation had requested the senior police officials to facilitate her pilgrimage to the temple in the light of the Supreme Court verdict.

Despite the police officials cautioning, the woman did not retreat and was firm on undertaking the trek.