The Sabarimala Sanctuary and the base camps remain largely peaceful on the last day of the two-day ritual

Pathanamthitta: The faithful depart from Nilakkal base camp to Sabarimala temple in Pathanamthitta. (PTI Photo)

With the exception of the incident of a 52-year-old woman from Thrissur where confusion around her age provoked protests at the Sabarimala shrine at the top of the hill , at the temple and adjacent base camps of Nilackal and Pamba remaining largely peaceful and free of violence. The gates of the temple would close Tuesday at 10 pm, ending the two-day rituals of the "Chithira attack vishesham" held to celebrate the anniversary of the last king of Travancore, Chithira Thirunal Rama Varma.

The police presence was reinforced especially on Tuesday, anticipating violence if women aged 10 to 50 climb the hill. A woman in her late twenties approached the police late Monday with her husband and two children to go to the shrine. But given the security implications, the police asked them to return to an agreed location after hours of discussions.

On Tuesday, Hindu groups affiliated with Sangh Parivar organized namajapam (prayer) sessions at Pamba Base Camp and Sannidhanam. BJp leaders such as PK Krishnadas, AN Radhakrishnan, MT Ramesh attended these prayer sessions. There were many groups of such pilgrims in Sannidhabam, as well as the path leading to the shrine, to thwart any attempt to allow women of old age to have their period.

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Valsan Thillankeri, one of the main rulers of Kannur RS who was in Sabarimala for the past two days, said that the faithful would react "naturally" in case of "violation of traditions" .

The entry of 52-year-old Lalitha Ravi sparked a series of protests in Sannidhabam following rumors that worshipers and protesters were under 50 years old. Later, a crowd of pilgrims surrounded her as the police tried to escort her to a fight. She was then taken to Sannidhanam Hospital where she told reporters that she was 52 years old and that she had come to attend the "choroonu" (rice feeding ceremony). from his grandson to the Ganapathi temple in Pamba. After his clarification, the pilgrims lined up like a human chain to escort him to the temple. She prayed and went home with her family.

The gates of Sabarimala Temple would close Tuesday at 10 pm to open at the famous 'mandalam' feast on the first day of the month of 'vrischikam', somewhere in the middle -November.

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