Two women, under 50, enter Sabarimala; temple shut for 'purification'

The women, both in their 40s, had unsuccessfully tried to enter the temple in December 2018 but had to retreat after protests.

They started their trek at midnight in presence of heavy security.

Notably, many women tried to enter the temple but couldn't. In November last year, Pune based activist Trupti Desai couldn't leave Kochi Airport in the presence of a sea of protesters.

In December, women aged between 10-50 and belonging to Chennai-based Manithi outfit, faced angry protests at the foothills.

One of the women, U Thilagavathi, said the priest at Pamba refused to give them irumudi, the prayer kit which devotees carry on their heads.

While they were confident the deity would protect them, protesters forced them to return to base camp.

Notably, on Tuesday Prime Minister Narendra Modi seemed to support the decades-old tradition of Sabarimala which prohibited women from praying there.

Speaking to ANI, PM Modi said people should read the dissenting judgment of Justice Indu Malhotra on the matter.

He added Triple Talaq matter and Sabarimala wasn't the same. The former is about gender equality and the latter is a religious issue.

While the Sabarimala issue became highly-political, lakhs of women in Kerala formed a human wall to make the temple inclusive for all.

The event, organized by CPI(M)-led LDF government and several community outfits, was called 'vanitha mathil'.

In nearly 14 districts, women came out in streets in support of the landmark SC judgment and against RSS' idea which supports the ban.