2 women begin climb to Sabarimala temple amid protests
December 24, 2018 08:42
Two women below 50 are trekking up towards the Sabarimala temple in Kerala, a day after a group of 11 women aborted their attempt to go to the hilltop shrine of Lord Ayyappa nestled in the Western Ghats.
The two women are being escorted by a large police team. Some protesters tried to stop them, but they were quickly removed by the police, sources at the base camp Pamba said.
The women are facing stiff resistance from the protesters on the 5-km uphill climb to the temple, sources said.
On Sunday, 11 women who were waiting at Pamba to attempt the 5-km trek were evicted from the base camp by the Kerala police following a huge face-off with protesters. The police have denied the accusation.
The group was expected to be the first of several planning to attempt the trek in December -- three months after a Supreme Court order that opened the temple doors to women of all ages.
On Sunday, protests intensified at Pamba against the women only three hours after they gathered at the base camp at dawn. The women's group said that the protesters "snatched" their "irumudi" or offerings kit that devotees carry on their heads.
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