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Annual Sabarimala festival begins
- The Sabarimala temple has been opened for pilgrims for the 10 days-long annual festival and poojas of month of Meenam (Malayalam calendar). The festival started on 11th March 2019.
- The Sabarimala temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Ayyappa. It is situated on a hilltop named Sabarimala in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala.
- In recent months, the Sabarimala has witnessed violent protests against 2018 Supreme Court judgement. The Supreme Court had ruled that women, irrespective of age, can enter Kerala’s Sabarimala temple. Previously, girls and women in the 10-50 age group were prohibited from entering the Sabarimala temple. In January, two women in the 10-50 age group had entered the temple amidst widespread protests.
- The Sabarimala issue has become a major political issue in Kerala. Recently, Kerala’s Chief Electoral Officer has said that political parties invoking the Sabarimala temple during campaigning for Lok Sabha election 2019 would be considered as the violation of Model code of conduct (MCC).
