Summary:
BENGALURU: Hundreds of Ayyappa devotees gathered here on Sunday, demanding the Supreme Court review its order that allows entry of women of all ages into Sabarimala temple The protest at Freedom Park was spearheaded by Sri Ayyappa Temples’ Association, comprising 45 temples in Bengaluru.B Jay Prakash, general secretary of Akhila Bharatiya Sabarimala Ayyappa Sewa Samajam, said, “The tradition of not allowing women into Sabarimala temple goes back to 1,000 years or so. Only a certain section of people wants the restriction to go.”The gates of Sabarimala temple are scheduled to open on October 16 and close six days later. It was made because women between the age of 10 and 50 are considered to be caught in worldly affairs. The reason is the rough terrain of the region where the temple is located; women in those days would find it hard to travel. The restriction applies only to those from 10 to 50 years of age..