Pamba: As the Mandala season is set to begin, ten women from the restricted age bar reached at Pamba but they were sent back by the police after checking their age and identity card.
When they insisted, a senior police officer said they have been given strict instructions to not permit women in the age group of 10-50 to the temple. The women were from Vijayawada.
Meanwhile, hundreds of devotees have started their journey to the Sabarimala temple, on the very first day of the 41-day annual pilgrimage.
“In the first one hour, more than 10,000 pilgrims passed the police check post,” said a senior police officer in Pamba.
The state government has clearly said that it will not provide any security to women devotees although many activists have planned to break the rule by entering the temple.
Sabarimala temple portals will be opened today evening at 5. And in the evening, with the presence of Tantri Kandararu Mahesh Mohanaru, Melshanti will open the portals.
