Govt U-turn on women's entry to Sabarimala

FOR A NEW ROLE | The CPM is seeking to project itself as a custodian of faith

- HD Bureau

The Travancore Devaswom Board has signaled a reassessment of its previous affidavit to the Supreme Court, favouring the entry of women to the hill shrine of Sabarimala, with its president indicating plans to consult legal experts to craft a new submission.

The new affidavit would seek to preserve temple rituals and religious traditions, which prohibit women of reproductive age from entering the premises as the deity Lord Ayyappa is committed to celibacy. This marks a notable shift from alignments with the state government's earlier stance favouring access for women.