Those who attended the Nama Sankeerthana Yatra in Kozhikode on Sunday comprised mostly men and less than 50 women. | Photo Credit: HAND OUT more-in A Nama Sankeerthana Yatra was organised by Hindu Progressive Forum and several other organisations in the city demanding that the authorities protect the custom at the Sabarimala Temple. The protesters comprised mostly men and less than 50 women. Inaugurating the yatra, Vaikunta Swami Dharmaparipalana Sangham (VSDP) State president Vishnupuram Chandrasekharan claimed that it was just a propaganda that women were not allowed in Sabarimala, whereas it was an age-old practice. “Young women had themselves refrained from going to Sabarimala. It is a custom,” he said, adding that true devotees were those who came together when God needed them. Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam district president C. Sudheesh said that Hindus did not believe in the “unholiness of menstrual blood, instead celebrate it. “There are no restrictions for women in Sabarimala, just some guidelines. That is the peculiarity of the temple which should be respected,” he observed. He demanded that the State pay heed to the sentiments of believers and file a review petition in the Supreme Court. Panikkar Society, Kerala Vanika Vysya Sangham, Yadava Sabha, and various Ayyappan Vilakku committees joined the protest.

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