Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government on Tuesday said it will move the Supreme Court for continuing the ban on the entry of women of menstrual age at the Sabarimala hill shrine.
A day after Supreme Court questioned the tradition, Home Minister Ramesh Ramesh Chennithala told CNN IBN that the state will submit an affidavit explaining why it should be continued.
"Temples are run by practices and customs based on faith. So in this temple there are certain customs and practices since ages. All of a sudden we cannot change them. We have to respect the sentiments of pilgrims, Chennithala said.
The Travancore Devaswom Board, which runs the Lord Ayyappa temple, too said it would place its stand before the apex court for the continuation of the ban on the entry of women aged 10 to 50.
On Monday, while hearing a petition filed by Young Lawyers Association, the SC had observed that the practice was not supported by the constitutional scheme.
TDP president Prayar Gopalakrishnan told PTI that the observation was made without understanding the rituals of the temple and deity Lord Ayyappa, who is considered a "perennial celibate" (Naishtika Brahmachari).
As per the belief, certain customs and traditions have to be followed while visiting the hill shrine, he said.
The VHP in Kerala, which is planning to implead in the case, said the the issue involved not only religious aspects, but also of the safety of women at the hill shrine, where lakhs converge during the three-month pilgrim season from November to January.
The issue has triggered a debate among devotees, with many of them saying the ban on entry of women should be lifted.
With PTI inputs
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