Andhra Pradesh woman dodges security to trek Sabari, stopped at temple

Kochi: A 31-year-old woman managed to dodge security checkup at Pamba and trekked the over four km forest path to Sannidhanam on Sunday morning, but cops upon getting suspicious prevented her from entering Sabarimala hill shrine, where female devotees in the 10-50 age group are not allowed. The Andhra Pradesh native was stopped by police on duty at the ‘Valiyanadapandal’ just before the 18 holy steps. Upon checking her identity card, she was found to be only 31 years of age and was sent back.

“The woman was identified as Vanarasi Parvathy, a resident of Subhash Nagar, Ellant, Khammam. She arrived at Sannidhanam along with her husband and children at 11 AM,” police said. Entry of women is strictly monitored by police at Pampa river before they begin the trek to the hill shrine. Temple sources were clueless on how she managed to reach there defying police monitoring and stringent checks.

Hindu right-wing outfits had charged that a woman health department official, below 50 years of age, had entered the temple premise along with health minister K. K. Shailaja the other day. However, Travancore Devaswom Board president A. Padmakumar clarified that she was 51.