Pathanamthitta: Two women, who started to trek towards Sabarimala on Wednesday, have returned without having the darshan of Lord Ayyappa at the temple. The women, Reshma Nishanth and Shanila, were identified as Kannur natives. Ayyappa devotees from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu stopped the women of menstruating age, who tried to enter the shrine. 

At the same time, it is also reported that only a handful of devotees were there to protest the women's entry.

Also read: Three women address press seeking protection while visiting Sabarimala; devotees protest

The women tried to enter the Sabarimala with a seven-member team, sent by a Facebook group titled ‘Navodhana Keralam Sabarimalyilekku’. The team includes Shreyas Kanaran, Subramanyan, Suban, Mithun and Sajesh. 

As per reports, the women group reached Neelimala by 4:30 am.  The group had to stay at Neelimala for more than 3 hours because of the protests staged by Ayyappa devotees. 

Meanwhile, protesters including children, lit camphor and chanted Ayyappa mantras to stop the women from entering the shrine. 

The women claimed that they had observed 41 days of vratham (fast). “We waited and decided to come here after Makaravilakku as we wanted to have a peaceful darshan," said Reshma Nishanth to media.

Earlier,  after Reshma revealed her plan to enter the Sabarimala temple, a mob including those from the Hindu outfits gathered near her house, raised slogans against her and threatened not to allow her to enter the temple. Many natives had surrounded her house to stop Reshma.

Reshma also revealed about the dream she had, which drove her to visit Sabarimala. She said that in 2006, while doing her masters, she found some women in certain parts of the neighbouring districts fasting during 'Mandala Kaalam', and even they were not allowed to have the darshan of Lord Ayyappa.

After that, she started fasting during 'Mandala Kaalam'. But this time, after the Supreme Court verdict, she started wearing the beaded chain that is worn by men before leaving for the Sabarimala temple.

At Reshma's home, her family is supporting her completely. In October, her husband, Nishanth, accompanied her to the local temple to guard her. He remained outside until she finished her prayers. Reshma also said that her five-year-old daughter is not stifled to any religion or beliefs. 

Earlier, Reshma, Shanila and Dhanya held a press conference in Kochi and remained adamant, expressing their desire to enter the shrine. The devotees were enraged by this.