SABARIMALA: Sabarimala temple closed early Sunday morning after a 60-day-long tumultuous season with rituals performed by Tantri (chief priest) Kandararu Rajeevaru in the presence of Pandalam royals.
The melsanthi (senior priest) handed over its key to the royal family representative P. Raghava Varma Raja, who entrusted it with the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB).Following this, the procession to take back Thiruvabharanam procession to Pandalam palace began.
The temple was opened for Mandalam-Makaravilakku season on November 16 amidst protests over Supreme Court lifting the age restrictions for women.
The pilgrimage season came to an end on January 14, but the temple was kept open for a week for monthly pujas.
The state had to clamp down prohibitory orders in Sannidhanam and surrounding places. The temple will open again on the first day of Malayalam month 'Kumbham' (February 13) for a week. The Supreme Court is yet to hear review petitions as Justice Indu Malhotra, the only dissenting judge on the five-member constitution bench that delivered the verdict, is on medical leave.
Meanwhile, talking to reporters, Mr Sasikumara Varma, representative of Pandalam Royal Family, said that they were ready to take part in any reconciliatory meeting government calls."We wish to resolve the issue amicably," he said.He described the state's attempt to submit to the apex court a list of 51 "women" of the disputed age group who had "worshipped" as an act of "getting beaten up after giving away a stick."
