Many devotees want 'old custom' to be maintained: Sabarimala Temple head priest

Amid the kerfuffle over the Supreme Court's verdict to allow menstruating women to worship at the Sabarimala temple in Kerala, the head priest of  Sabarimala Temple on Thursday said that ''so many devotees still want the old custom to be maintained''. 

Supreme Court thinks only about the law of the land, not about the customs and traditions, he was quoted as saying according to news agency ANI.

''So many devotees still want the old custom to be maintained. I have only one opinion, which is based on the old custom and tradition,'' Kandararu Rajeevaru, Sabarimala Temple head priest, said.

Stating that most of the devotees are desperate after SC verdict, he said It's a dangerous situation. 

''It's my request that please maintain system and custom of  Sabarimala Temple. I don't agree with violence. It hasn't been done by devotees but by others,'' Rajeevaru reportedly told ANI.

Earlier, journalist Suhasini Raj reportedly working with New York Times,  returned midway after being stopped by protesters.

Commenting on the development, IGP Thiruvananthapuram range said they will give protection to everybody going up. 

''It's our job to give protection to all pilgrims. We'll put more manpower and secure all routes. She(journalist Suhasini Raj reportedly working with New York Times)wasn't forced to come back, she came back,'' he added.