The Sabarimala temple opened for the annual temple festival with a Kodiyettam (flag hoisting) ceremony on Monday, 11 March. The temple will remain opened for the next 10 days.
A release issued by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which administers the shrine, had said that head priest Kandararu Rajeevaru would preside over the temple opening ceremony.
At least 700 civil police officers have been deployed at Sabarimala, Pamba, Nilackal, and Elavumkal.
The Kerala police have sought a ban on the assembly of more than four people at the Sabarimala temple.
The Travancore Devaswom Board, had filed a petition seeking additional time to implement the SC judgement passed in September 2018.
- Sabarimala temple opened for the annual temple festival for 10 days, starting 11 March
- Kerala chief election commissioner has appealed for not using Sabarimala’s religious sentiment to garner votes for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections
- Pandalam royal family has slammed Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) for changing its stance on SC Order allowing women in the Sabarimala temple
- Two women – Bindu and Kanakadurga – who had entered the temple earlier, sought direction that they be allowed to enter again when the temple opens on Tuesday
'Don't Use Sabarimala to Invoke Religious Sentiments During Campaign': EC
The raging controversy around women entry into Sabarimala temple could have become the focal point for political parties in Kerala, during the 2019 Lok Sabha election campaign. However, the State’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Teeka Ram Meena has categorically stated that the issue, cannot be milked to garner votes, especially by appealing to religious sentiments, The News Minute reported.
“Sabarimala can be used politically, but it can’t be used to instigate the religious feelings particularly that of Hindus; that will not be accepted. It shouldn’t be given a religious dimension, or used to invoke sentiments of a particular religious community or a particular religious group or against another group or political party.”Teeka Ram, CEO, Kerala to TNM
Sabarimala Temple Opens to Kodiyettam Ceremony
The Sabarimala temple opened on Monday, 11 March for 10 days for the annual temple festival.
The temple opened to a Kodiyettam (flag hoisting) ceremony, according to a report by Mathrubhumi. The ceremony started around 10:30 am and went on for more than half an hour, till about 11:05 am.
Prior to the opening, the temple’s gold plated door was replaced with a new one, the Mathrubhumi report said.
Sabarimala Temple to Open on 11 March for 10 Day Festival
The Sabarimala temple will open for the annual temple festival for 10 days, starting from 11 March.
A release issued by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which administers the shrine, said that head priest Kandararu Rajeevaru would preside over the temple opening ceremony.
The festival will end on 21 March.
The temple will also get a new gold-plated door for the sanctum sanctorum when the hill shrine opens for the festival tomorrow.
The existing door, which developed tiny cracks, would be replaced with the new one.
Kerala Police Seek Prohibitory Orders
The Kerala police have sought a ban on the assembly of more than four people at the Sabarimala temple, reported The Hindustan Times.
This plea has been made to prevent any untoward incident, as a number of Hindu outfits have announced their plans to stop women under the age of 50, from entering the shrine.
“We will continue our peaceful protest [against the entry of women of all age groups] till we get justice,” said KP Sasikala, leader of The Sabarimala Karma Samiti.