Pathanamthitta: Sabarimala chief priest Kandararu Rajeevaru said, ‘purification rituals’ won’t be necessary for Sri Lankan woman’s entry into the temple. He said this woman’s entry is not confirmed. If necessary, ‘purification rituals’ will be done along with other poojas before Makaravilakku,” he said.

Sasikala, a woman from Sri Lanka, came with ‘Guruswami’ and had the darshan of Lord Ayyappa at 10.46 PM on Thursday. 

 The Kerala Police revealed this and they released the CCTV footage at the Sannidhanam. It is alleged that this was a police trap to send Sasikala back safely. Police released the visuals of Sasikala after confirming that she left Pathanamthitta.

 It is also reported that police asked Sasikala to inform the media that she was denied darshan so she can leave the state without any problems. 

Earlier, on January 2, Sabarimala temple doors were closed for purification after the entry of two women.

The chief priest of the Sabarimala temple has closed the doors of the shrine for performing purification rites after it was confirmed that two women entered the temple through the back gate and had the darshan of Lord Ayyappa.

The devotees and staff were asked to move out of the Sannidhanam to perform suddhikalasam (purification rites) in the temple. The chief priest closed the temple doors as instructed by the thantri.

The two women, who entered the shrine on January 2, were identified as Bindu from Kozhikode and Kanakadurga from Malappuram.

Earlier, on December 24, Bindu and Kanakadurga attempted to visit the shrine for the first time, but were taken back by the police due to security issues.

Devaswom board president, A Padma Kumar, came to the fore seriously criticising the thantri Rajeevaru for closing the temple and performing purification rituals. Board president has asked the thantri to provide an explanation within 15 days. 

On January 2, massive protest was witnessed in front of the Travancore Devaswom Board office. The board questioned the thantri for closing the temple for ‘purification rites’, earning the wrath of the devotees. The board alleged that they were not aware of the decision to close the temple and thus, they sought an explanation from the thantri. The board also said that necessary action would be taken.