Separate pilgrimage time for women

Thiruvananthapuram: Sabarimala’s traditions are being debated yet again.

The Kerala government has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that they have no reservations in allowing women of all ages to enter the Sabarimala shrine provided there is a consensus on the issue.

Even a separate pilgrimage season for women is being proposed.

“Let’s create a separate darshan period for the women,” suggested the Minister for Devaswoms, G Sudhakaran. “Either extend the season period or give separate periods.”

The affidavit is in response to a petition seeking a direction to lift the traditional ban on women of the age group of 10-50 from entering the temple.

Sabarimala’s tradition dictates the ban because the presiding deity at Sabarimala is the bachelor god, Ayyappa. Women in that age group menstruate and hence the ban.

The Devaswom Board, however, wants the status quo to be maintained.

The autonomous body, Travancore Devaswom Board, controls the temple's functioning and a majority in the Board feel that such a radical change will not go down well with devotees.

“We will not do anything in Sabarimala which will hurt the sentiments of the devotees. That’s of primary importance to us,” stated Board member Sumathikutty Amma.

The Board's president, who is a CPI-M man, has a different take.

“I agree with the government's argument but before that’s done, the government and Devaswom Board has to take certain steps for the protection of women as well as a consensus with the public,” said TDB President, C Guptan.

With this affidavit the state government seems to have made its stand very clear. But unless the Travancore Devaswom Board, which is hugely divided in this issue, makes up its mind, it will take a while before women can really enter Sabarimala.