Sabarimala temple to open today, security tightened

Violence and protests had marked the opening of the temple last month when women of all ages tried to enter the shrine.

This is the second time the temple will be opened for devotees since the Supreme Court gave its verdict in September where it allowed women o all ages to enter it.

Verdict and post-judgement protests:

A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court on Sept 28 had lifted the ban on women's entry into the Sabarimala temple declaring the relevant rules as unconstitutional. 

Following the top court's verdict, the shrine opened on Oct 18 for the first time allowing menstruating women, belonging to the age group of 10 to 50, to enter the temple.

However, several men and women had protested outside the temple, trying to prevent the entry of women in the shrine. The temple was closed after five-day puja.

Menstruating women were earlier banned from entering the temple for centuries as a part of the religious practice.

Two women- an activist and a journalist- had attempted to enter Kerala's Sabrimala Temple, returned without entering the shrine.

The two women turned back after the priest threatened to shut the temple if they don't go back.

Protests had rocked the state in recent times over the verdict with demonstrators not supporting the order of allowing women aged between 10 and 50 from entering the temple.

Image: Wikimedia Commons