Thiruvananthapuram: Rallies, marches and roadblocks marked protests by Hindu outfits on Wednesday against the LDF-led Kerala government's decision to implement the Supreme Court verdict on Sabarimala, even as the state government maintained that it would not go for a review.

Devotees, including a large number of women, squatted on the road at different places, chanting "Protect the rituals of Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala". While the agitation was expected to die down in time, Hindutva outfits, along with BJP and Congress have been mobilising the crowd to fight against the implementation of the verdict.

A minor scuffle was also reported between the protestors and the general public at Aluva and Muuvatupuzha in Ernakulam districts.

A group of BJP activists showed black flags to Kerala Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran at Kazhakootam near here, leading to tension for some time. Pinarayi Vijayan's attempt to meet with the temple priest - Tanthri - and the family of the family of the Pandalam palace turned futile as they snubbed him by denying to meet.

A protest rally by BJP-led NDA began from Pandalam in Pathanamthitta district and would end in front of the Secretariat here with a demonstration on October 15. BJP state president PS Sreedharan Pillai and Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) president Thushar Vellapally led the march. Pillai said the party was with the believers and alleged the government was trying to destroy the hill shrine.

In the state capital, a huge rally was taken out under the auspices of the Nair Service Society (NSS), which also filed the review petition at the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, a two-day meeting of Travancore Devaswom Board that manages the Lord Ayyappa temple would take stock of preparations for the upcoming Mandala-Makkaravillaku festival, beginning November 17. The CPI(M) has been trying to hold meetings with women's groups to put forth their point of view and "avoid confrontation". But many also claim the ruling party failed to explain the contrasting stands taken by the Travancore Devaswom Board during the hearing of the case.

However, Surendran said the government would ensure necessary facilities for devotees visiting Sabarimala.

He said there was no point in launching agitations against the government as it was only implementing the apex court order on the matter.

The Congress, BJP and various Hindu organisations have launched protests demanding the state government file a review petition against the verdict.

But, the Left government has maintained that it would not go in for a review of the ruling.

The apex court in its verdict on September 28 had allowed entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala shrine.