Sabrimala to open today for the annual pilgrimage amidst ‘no consensus’ all party meeting
Amid lot the controversy Lord Ayyappa Temple, Sabarimala is all set to open for the annual pilgrimage on Friday, the 16th November. Melsanthi Unnikrishnan Nampoothiri will open the Sreekovil of the temple at 5 pm in the presence of Thantri Kandararu Rajivaru. As per the ongoing practice of the temple, no rituals will be performed at the Sreekovil of the temple in the evening.
There is going to be a ceremony on Friday evening to install V N Vasudevan Nampoothiri as the new melsanthi of Sabarimala temple. Present Thantri Kandararu Rajivaru will be performing the installation ceremony with ‘kalasabhishekam’ on the new melsanthi in front of the Sreekovil at 6 pm. Following it, the thantri will pass on the moolamantram” of Lord Ayyappa on the ears of the melsanthi. The new melsanthi’s of Sabarimala and Malikappuram temples will take charge for a period of one year on the first day of the annual pilgrimage season by opening the Sreekovil at 4 am on November 17.
Controversial season
This year’s annual Sabrimala Makaravilakku festival season has garnered the national and international attention with Supreme Court lifting the ban on women’s entry into the Sanctum sanctorium. And with woman trying to enter the temple last month when the temple opened for few days has been futile with protests. Meanwhile the Supreme Court’s latest decision to hear the review petition on January 22 has created even more confusion among the public.
No Consensus
Mean while all the hopes for the smooth season was pinned on the all – party meeting convened by the Chief Minister to riggle out a solution on the issue of the ongoing practice of Sabarimala, the devotees are expected to throng the hill shrine on the opening day.
But unfortunately the parties failed to reach to consensus on the issue as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress walked out of the meeting towards the end alleging that the government is trying to allow entry of women to the temple by force hurting the sentiments of devotees. The 1.45-hour long meeting ended in a stormy note with the BJP and the Congress alleging government acting with hidden agendas. Opposition parties have said that the government is adamant on its stand and hence the problem cannot be resolved.
Meanwhile more than 550 woman have applied for the entry into the temple and Trupthi Desai wants police protection as she plans to enter the temple when it is opened on Friday.
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