Ayyappa Devotees  

At least ten women of 10-50 age group tried trekking to Sabarimala shrine on November 16. The women are touted to be from Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. However, when the Kerala Police informed them that women in the menstruating ages will not be allowed to enter, the group returned. 

The Sabarimala Karma Samithi leaders urged to end the harassment of its activists in the name of breach of law and order. Regarding this protest, the LDF and UDF have accused the Sabarimala Karma Samithi of violating the model code of conduct during Lok Sabha election.

The Ayyappa devotees have taken a new challenge in Kerala to protect Sabarimala. They have decided to vote for the party that will openly support Sabarimala and preserve the Ayyappa shrine. 
 

Ayyappa devotees have been staging protests since October last year with an intention to preserve the tradition. With Lok Sabha election nearing, they have come up with a new strategy that they will vote for only those leaders, who will preserve their Sabarimala.

Andhra Pradesh women aged below 50 tried to enter the Sabarimala with others, but the Ayyappa devotees stopped them
 

Sabarimala turned into a battlefield after the Supreme Court verdict on September 28, 2018. Ayyappa devotees question Kerala chief minister as to why he doesn't show any interest towards River Pamba near the holy shrine while he supports the verdict.
 

Earlier, Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi stated that Indu Malhotra, the lone woman judge of the bench considering the case, is on medical leave and hence the case is unlikely to be considered on January 22 as scheduled
 

With the Lok Sabha elections fast approaching, many citizens in Kerala alleged that the LDF and UDF were trying to gain votes through the Sabarimala protests. The double standards of both the parties over the Sabarimala temple has also been proven, they alleged.

Bharathbhushan apologised publicly in the Ayyappa Bhakta Sangamam programme for his sister's 'brutal act' of hurting Ayyappa devotees' sentiments. He also alleged that CPM is behind the women's entry into Sabarimala.
 

Mata Amritanandamayi said different temples had different traditions, which even Shankaracharya and Sree Narayana Guru allowed. She said about Sabarimala that the Ayyappa deity's tradition must be decided by none other than the thantri, head priest and devotees
 

 The women approached the Supreme Court seeking round the clock security following life threats. A national group of Ayyappa devotees had requested not to consider their pleas

The BJP is planning to end their hunger strike after the Sabarimala shrine closes this season, media reports state. The Ayyappa devotees can have darshan till January 19 at Sabarimala. The shrine will reopen on February 12 for the monthly puja in Kumbam Masam (February to March).

 

The women tried to enter the Sabarimala with a seven-member team, sent by a Facebook group titled ‘Navodhana Keralam Sabarimalyilekku’. Ayyappa devotees from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu stopped the women of menstruating age, who tried to enter the shrine. 

As per reports, only five prisoners had completed 14 years of jail term, and 105 prisoners had completed only ten years of jail term. The Kerala high court has advised to check the background of the prisoners, who were released from jail in 2011.  And suggested that if any criminal background is still pending against them, then the person should be taken back to the prison.