Sabarimala Temple Row

Sabarimala witnesses unprecedented rush of devotees ahead of Mandala pooja

The famed Lord Ayyappa temple here is witnessing unprecedented heavy rush on Wednesday morning with just hours left for the performance of the auspicious Mandala pooja at the hill shrine. Long queues of pilgrims carrying the sacred bundle of "irunmudikettu" on their heads and chanting "swamiye saranam Ayyappa" mantras could be seen at the Sannidhanam, the temple complex. The sea of devotees was waiting to get a glimpse of the mandala pooja which marks the culmination of the first leg of the two month-long annual pilgrimage at the Lord Ayyappa temple. A ceremonial procession carrying the sacred Thanka Anki (golden attire) of Lord Ayyappa reached the hill shrine here last evening. According to temple management sources, the pooja would be performed after adorning the 'anki' on the idol of Lord Ayyappa, the principal deity. The poojas and rituals would be performed between 10.30 am and 11.30 am, they said. After the Mandala Pooja, the shrine would be closed by 11.00 pm and would be

Kerala's Sabarimala Temple opens for annual pilgrimage season today

The Chief priest (Melsanthi) opened the sanctum sanctorum of the temple priest in the presence of the thantri of the temple, and lit the lamp at the hill shrine today

Sabarimala all set to receive pilgrims as season begins on Nov 17

The Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala will be opened on Wednesday, a day ahead of commencement of two-month long pilgrimage season. The annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season begins on November 17. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple will be opened at 5 PM on November 16 in the presence of chief priest (Tantri) Kandararu Rajeevaru by outgoing head priest N Parameswaran Namboothiri. Later, newly selected head priests of Lord Ayyappa and Malikappuram temples will take over for performing poojas for the next one-year period. The 41-day Mandala puja festival will conclude on December 27. The temple will be opened again on December 30 for the Makaravilakku pilgrimage on January 14, 2023. The shrine will be closed on January 20, concluding the pilgrim season. Officials said thousands of devotees are expected to participate this year as it is the first pilgrim season after lifting of the COVID-19 restrictions which were in place during the last two years. Elaborate security ..

Kerala Assembly polls: Sabarimala triggers heated debate on election day

The Sabarimala women's entry issue, one of the major poll planks of the opposition UDF and the NDA against the ruling LDF during the campaign, took centre stage of debate even on the day of election

Kerala moves SC against HC order increasing pilgrims to Sabarimala temple

It said that to control the Covid-19 pandemic during the Sabarimala temple festival season between December 20 and January 14 next year, the state had constituted the high-level committee

Not discussing issue of women's entry into Sabarimala temple, says SC

A nine-judge bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde is hearing several senior lawyers, including jurist FS Nariman, on the issue of framing of questions to be decided by it

Not hearing pleas to review Sabarimala verdict allowing entry to women: SC

Besides the CJI, the bench comprises Justices R Banumathi, Ashok Bhushan, L Nageswara Rao, M M Shantanagoudar, S Abdul Nazeer, R Subhash Reddy, B R Gavai and Surya Kant

Nine-judge Supreme Court bench to hear Sabarimala temple issue from Jan 13

On November 14, last year, a five-judge constitution bench in a 3:2 majority verdict had referred to a larger 7-judge bench

Pilgrimage at Sabarimala to end Friday, Ayyappa temple rakes in Rs 156 cr

During this season, some young women who came to Sabarimala were not allowed by authorities to trek to the Ayyappa temple

SC asks Kerala govt to come out with exclusive law for Sabarimala

A bench headed by Justice N V Ramana asked the state to place before it by third week of January next year the legislation, also covering the aspects of welfare of pilgrims visiting there

10 young women from Andhra Pradesh stopped at Pamba as Sabarimala reopens

The Lord Ayyappa temple opened this evening for the two month long Mandala-Makaravillakku pilgrimage season.

Sabarimala temple opens Saturday evening, no police protection for women

The pilgrims would be allowed to climb the 18 holy steps after the padi puja and have darshan.

Sabarimala once more

Social justice and progressive social reforms are never a walk in the park

Here's the full story of the Sabarimala temple case so far

The Supreme Court on Thursday said a larger seven-judge bench will re-examine various religious issues, including the entry of women into the Sabarimala temple

Like Ayodhya, respect SC verdict in Sabarimala case, too: Kerala MLA to BJP

BJP MLA Rajagopal had sought reply from the Devaswom Minister on the arrangements made at the hilltop shrine ahead of the annual pilgrimage season

Kerala women tell SC about their resolve to enter Sabarimala temple again

Two ladies have also filed a contempt petition against the Sabarimala temple's 'Thantri' and authorities

Kerala govt duty-bound to implement SC's verdict on Sabarimala: Governor

In his customary policy address marking the beginning of the 14th session of the Assembly, he said the state government had stood for gender equality, social justice and the dignity of toiling masses

Entry to Sabarimala a big step forward for gender equality? Ask Dalit women

Clearly, the people celebrating this victory at Sabarimala are predominantly dominant caste Hindu women

Sabarimala: Two women trying to enter second time turned away by police

The women, said to be in their late 30s, claimed that they had come to the temple after undertaking the 41-day 'vritham' (penance)

Clashes outside Sabarimala after two women tried to enter the shrine

Both women, who are now under police custody, sat on indefinite fast demanding that they be allowed to enter the shrine