Kerala Floods - Aftermath and Save Sabarimala

[SSridhar]

She should also file a case against the Jama'ath for ex-communicating her from Islam. Has anybody got any right to deprive another person's religious beliefs?

[Javee]

She is parroting the same lines that Pinnarayi said couple days back,making this a class issue, I hope no one falls for it.

Here is an interesting news article that I read from 2017,

Kerala has never witnessed a public outcry over non-Hindus worshipping at Sabarimala because the hill shrine has a secular tradition. However, Travancore Devaswom Board member Ajay Tharayil has flagged the issue, saying a 1952 law bars non-Hindus.

....Meanwhile, Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran termed Mr Tharayil’s demand to permit non-Hindus as out of context and irrelevant. He said he was at a loss of words on the Congress leader’s motive. “There is no meaning in quoting from the Devaswom rule book of 1952, and forwarding such a demand. Currently, there is no situation in Kerala where non-Hindus are not allowed inside a temple. Such a situation is not there in Guruvayoor either, and hence there is no scope for further discussion on this issue”, said Mr Surendran.

https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/ ... again.html

Here is the actual text of Rule 3(a) of Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship

Preamble
.-WHEREAS it is expedient to make better provisions for the entry of all classes and sections of Hindus into places of public worship

https://smhttp-ssl-70271.nexcesscdn.net ... t-1958.pdf

If there is a law banning non-hindus in to Sabarimalai, Aiyappa seva committee should sue the pants out of commie govt, Rehana, Suhasini and the scores of others trying to enter in to the temple.

[UlanBatori]

^^Your fake outrage on KL alone getting shafted in SC and bringing in TN is a neat way of dividing the popular support from other states. No one is going to fall for it. Sabarimalai is the largest annual pilgrimage site in the world with at least 20 million people visiting the abode. So it's not just lakhs but lakhs and lakhs of people protesting from all over south India. So yes, there is no point in talking about all these things, because it's not a mob, it's a god damn city.

er.... I think the crowd is larger in Marine Drive when commuters have to walk because of the Monthly Period: (bus strike/hartal). And when the movie theaters let out viewers after showing of (never mind)

The photo of 5 wimmens holding a Save Sabarimala poster may not be connected to the picture of the large crowd apparently filling the Big Road.

[chetak]

She should also file a case against the Jama'ath for ex-communicating her from Islam. Has anybody got any right to deprive another person's religious beliefs?

there is a process called Takfir or takfeer.

Whether applicable in this specific case or not is beyond my ken but the process does exist.

[chetak]

She should also file a case against the Jama'ath for ex-communicating her from Islam. Has anybody got any right to deprive another person's religious beliefs?

I am now totally confused, is she "excommunicated" or is she "communicating"?? in such a taqiya way such that the mullahs or the muslims bear NO responsibility??

Is this the same "lady" whom the kerala police "escorted" to the Ayappan Temple so as to facilitate her entry??

Abhijit Majumder Verified account @abhijitmajumder

That image is what Rehana Fathima put up as her Facebook cover. Those toasting her attempt to enter #Sabarimala should try sending Kurt Westergaard, maker of Prophet cartoons, to a mosque anywhere in the world and see what happens.
Selectively kicking Hindus can’t be secularism.


** Image Removed **

Dr. SUDHANSHU SULTANIA (Sociologist) @1984SUDHANSHU Oct 20

Replying to @abhijitmajumder

On 18.04.2018, I already complained against Artist of this obscene paintings to @DelhiPolice @CPDelhi . but @DCP_CCC_Delhi didn't register even a F.I.R. against culprit.

[arvin]

please remove the first pic. its NSFW.

[SSridhar]

there is a process called Takfir or takfeer.

Whether applicable in this specific case or not is beyond my ken but the process does exist.

Oh yeah, we know about condemning anybody as a takfiri and expelling him/her from the Ummah. But, they didn't do it so far when she acted nude, came topless, wore bikinis or did all that 'Kiss of Love' tamasha. They now claim that they are ex-communicating her because she defiled the greatness of Sabarimala and hurt the sentiments of Hindu brothers/sisters !

ரெஹானா பாத்திமா முஸ்லிம் சமூகத்தில் இருந்து நீக்கம்; முஸ்லிம் அமைப்பு அதிரடி {Rehana Fathima excommunicated: Strong Action by Muslim Jama'ath - Tamil Hindu}

இந்தச் சூழலில் சமூக செயற்பாட்டாளர் ரெஹானா பாத்திமா சபரிமலையின் மாண்பையும், இந்துக்களின் உணர்வுகளையும் புண்படுத்தியதாகக்கூறி முஸ்லிம் சமூகத்தில் இருந்து கேரள முஸ்லிம் ஜமாத் நீக்கி அறிவித்துள்ளது.{In this milieu, the Kerala Muslim Jama'ath has announced that social activist Rehana Fathima has been excommunicated from Muslim community for wounding the greatness of Sabarimala and hurting the sentiments of Hindus}

இது குறித்து இருந்து கேரள முஸ்லிம் ஜமாத் கவுன்சிலின் தலைவர் ஏ.பூக்குஞ்சு, எர்ணாகுளம் மத்திய முஸ்லிம் ஜமாத்துக்கு உத்தரவிட்டு ரெஹானா பாத்திமா, அவரின் குடும்பத்தினரையும் முஸ்லிம் சமூகத்தில் இருந்து நீக்க உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளார். இது குறித்து அவர் வெளியிட்ட அறிக்கையில், சபரிமலையில் கோடிக்கணக்கான இந்துக்கள் கடைப்பிடிக்கும் பாரம்பரியங்கள், விதிமுறைகளை மீறி ரெஹானா அங்குச் சென்று, இந்துக்களின் உணர்வுகளைப் புண்படுத்திவிட்டார். ஆதலால் அவர் முஸ்லிம் சமூகத்தில் இருந்து நீக்கி உத்தரவிடுகிறோம். {A.Pookunju, Chief of the Kerala Muslim Jama'ath has ordered the Ernakulam Muslim Jama'ath to expel Rehana and her family from the Jama'ath. She has wounded the sentiments of crores of Hindus in the customs they follow at Sabarimala by going there. So, we order her removal from the Muslim community}

அதுமட்டுமல்லாமல், கிஸ் ஆப் லவ் என்ற போராட்டத்தையும், நிர்வாணமாகத் திரைப்படத்திலும் நடித்து முஸ்லிம் மதத்துக்கு விரோதமான செயல்களில் தொடர்ந்து ஈடுபட்டார்.{Apart from that, she has acted against Islamic tenets by conducting the 'Kiss of Love' programme and acting nude in a movie}

ஆதலால், இரு மதங்களுக்கு இடையே மதவிரோதத்தை பரப்பும் எண்ணத்துடன் செயல்பட்ட ரெஹானா பாத்திமா மீது ஐபிசி 153ஏ ப பிரிவின் கீழ் வழக்குப்பதிவு செய்து மாநில அரசு கைது செய்ய உத்தரவிட வேண்டும். இவ்வாறு அதில் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.{Therefore, the GoKL must arrest her under IPC section 135A for sowing hatred between the two religions}

[ShyamSP]

She should also file a case against the Jama'ath for ex-communicating her from Islam. Has anybody got any right to deprive another person's religious beliefs?

SC judges will pee in their pants to get involved in this. Court judgments are big joke which I found hard way in my case.

[ShyamSP]

A noisy protest broke out at Pampa on Sunday morning when a group of persons objected to two women from Andhra Pradesh trekking uphill to the Sabarimala temple.

This has been a perennial problem for quite some time. It is women from AP & TS who come year after year to Sabari Mala, but I do feel that it is purely because they do NOT know the tradition & customs at Sabari Mala. These visits are due to the ignorance of the unique traditions of Sabari Mala, and never done due to malice. The two women voluntarily came down after the police explained the situation and the traditions to them (an activity which the police has been doing excellently for very many years ). Yesterday a lady did face a sad situation when the devotees were not convinced of her age. There was (and still is) a strong feeling among the Ayyappa devotees that the government is hell bent on destroying their faith/belief system. The fakes and "activists" have now managed to cause distrust.

Update at 1412Hrs IST: One more woman from A.P reaches the point just below the holy 18 steps. She had lied on her age at the points down hill. And her Aadhaar card (which she conveniently carried) showed her age as 46. The police have now asked her to go back. This could be a case of Naxals (urban or rural) who are aplenty in A.P trying to play their nasty games. Perhaps Aadhaar card was taken in order to visit the shrine, and then openly declare that her age is in the currently banned age bracket.

There is NO way people DONOT know. The people who go to Sabarimala and priets/people who do irumudi for swamis know the Sabarimala procedures well. Whole eco-system of Mandala Deeksha is well known in places in AP, mostly temple towns, for long time (even before some 1991 judgement comment some smart person brought out here.).

Idiots and Scoundrels can be found everywhere including in AP and Supreme court.

English should be banned in all subjects except Sciences and they need to put Indian old literature as mandatory subjects to pass IAS, Law, etc. to get into administration and judiciary and to enter Politics. Indians continue to behave like slaves to Colonials still.

[Lisa]

SC judges are all in all eunuchs. If the had the guts let them make a ruling on female priests in the catholic church or on females leading prayers in a mosque. I might be corrected on the mosques bit but to the best of my knowledge, nowhere in the Bible is a woman priest forbidden. Ideally speaking the SC should serve notice on the Papacy on why there is not a single woman cardinal and how it intends to correct this anomaly.

If wishes were horses...........

[SSridhar]

There is NO way people DONOT know.

I agree. The customs of Sabarimala are too well known in the other southern states. And, they claim to be on a pilgrimage to Kerala and were unaware of the great churn there and the reasons for that?

[ShyamSP]

There is NO way people DONOT know.

I agree. The customs of Sabarimala are too well known in the other southern states. And, they claim to be on a pilgrimage to Kerala and were unaware of the great churn there and the reasons for that?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92WqNPKxht0
This is mid 70s Telugu film on Swami Ayyappa. Watch first 10 mins. It shows real recorded video for movie showing Sabarimala.
No women found at temple unlike some people said it is case only after 1991.

[UlanBatori]

The Worshippers have prevented any wimmens in relevant age window from reaching there. Congratulations. But note that anytime the Guvrmand wants, they can break through with ridiculous ease. Consider the following:
a) 2 wimmens age 60 go there.
b) One has a serious apparently life-threatening internal medical problem.
c) Govt sends Collector-level wimmens IAS Aphsar accompanying yindoos wimmens guvrmand doctors via IAF helo to the temple. They land, enter the temple, render aid, and supervise airlifting patient.
(wimmen) Polis keep crowd away.
All over in 30 mins, way too short for any organizers to climb the 18 steps.
Govt funds a PunyAham after the event.

The IAS aphsar has taken oath to serve anywhere in India without question.
The wimmen docs have taken the Hippopotamus Oath.
The Polis have no choice but to follow orders.

That is something just off the top of my head. For more detailed ideas, pls see Saga Of the Snail Darter

[Dileep]

I can imagine (I have a reasonably good faculty, as my 13 fans at BRF led by Ramana would vouch for) a hundred scenarios by which the guvermand can steal someone in. Hell, you can get many ideas from movies you see. "Mithunam" taknik = wrapping the lady in a floor mat. Rasatantram taknik = disguise as a young man with a fake mustache etc. But none of them serve the purpose. Bsri. Kandararu Rajeevaru can fix those in an hour and a half.

In the past, when police was tasked with the age check, I am sure there were a lot of 'leaks'. But now, since highly skeptical devotees are in charge, the checks will be pretty tight.

Today one of the main shrill on telly was, is blocking those wimmin of today legal?

Yes, it was illegal. No, it was not contempt of court. The devotees did what the father of our nation used to do. They willingly and peacefully broke the law to make a point. Exactly like the following that happens often (except the peaceful part)

a) Chimittu Thozhilali (Headstrong workers) demanding 'nokku kooli' (watching wages, where you do the unloading, but they take money because it is their right)
b) Hartal.
c) Moral bolis.

[Sachin]

b) One has a serious apparently life-threatening internal medical problem.
c) Govt sends Collector-level wimmens IAS Aphsar accompanying yindoos wimmens guvrmand doctors via IAF helo to the temple. They land, enter the temple, render aid, and supervise airlifting patient.

In Sabari Mala the Kerala government already has a hospital (with men staff) which has got pretty much all facilities. I made the pilgrimage three years back. The day I went there were three cases of cardiac arrests reported on the way to the shrine and at the shrine. When we completed the darshan the next day morning and returned, I saw the "Doli-wallahs" taking one dead body down the trekking path . One person died, and two were recuperating at Sabari Mala.

You may be aware of the lay out of Sabari Mala .
1. Nilakkal - on the ground, and today's parking grounds. Any one can go there.
2. Pamba - the bathing point at Pamba river, where every devotee takes a mandatory bath before proceeding. Any one can go there as well.
3. Ganapathi Kovil/temple - the first point before climbing the trekking path to the hill shrine. Devotees visit this temple and then proceed. Women of the banned age bracket, generally gets stopped here.
4. Marakkootam et.al - these are all way points on the trekking route. There are medical aid posts all through the way. Most of the "activists" who tried their tricks had to return back from these way points. These way points are also technically "open for all".
5. Nadapandhal - An open ground at the holy shrine. This was once an open ground, but now they have a huge canopy put up in the area. Very limited area, but this too is generally considered as "open for all". The lady from Kerala Govt. service who was deputed to do an inspection actually reached this point, did the checks and went back. Kavitha Koshi @ Jakkal and Rehana Fathima also reached this point.
6. 18 Steps, and the small hillock having the temple - This is the most sensitive region. And the place is not really vast. Perhaps less than 1000 square feet. It is to this area where women (within the age bracket) are not allowed.

So in the scenario you mentioned. GoKL sends up a woman who is a "medical case". She reports "life threatening internal medical problem" at point #6 (above). What would be done is that the "Police ayyappans" would immediately take the woman down to point #5. Either she will get shifted to the hospital at Sabari Mala, or if the GoKL is over enthusiastic they can send the IAF helicopter with a "all women" crew to air lift the person. But there would still NOT be a case of violation of any traditions or belief system.

[Sachin]

There is NO way people DONOT know. The people who go to Sabarimala and priets/people who do irumudi for swamis know the Sabarimala procedures well. Whole eco-system of Mandala Deeksha is well known in places in AP, mostly temple towns, for long time (even before some 1991 judgement comment some smart person brought out here.).

I agree. The customs of Sabarimala are too well known in the other southern states. And, they claim to be on a pilgrimage to Kerala and were unaware of the great churn there and the reasons for that?

Thanks. I don't know how the local media outlets covered the "Sabari Mala" incident. I am sure in Karnataka, people are now aware as the Chief Minister himself made a statement, stating that traditions should continue. But my contacts in AP/TS are very less. AP/TS also has a strong presence of the Naxals (urban and rural, included) who may now try their tricks at Sabari Mala. I was worried that there could be a misunderstanding of the religious practises at Sabari Mala, but I take that even there Guru Swamis etc. clearly know the practises. So any attempts from people from AP/TS also needs to be considered as a deliberate attempt to desecrate the temple.

[ShyamSP]

I can imagine (I have a reasonably good faculty, as my 13 fans at BRF led by Ramana would vouch for) a hundred scenarios by which the guvermand can steal someone in. Hell, you can get many ideas from movies you see. "Mithunam" taknik = wrapping the lady in a floor mat. Rasatantram taknik = disguise as a young man with a fake mustache etc. But none of them serve the purpose. Bsri. Kandararu Rajeevaru can fix those in an hour and a half.

In the past, when police was tasked with the age check, I am sure there were a lot of 'leaks'. But now, since highly skeptical devotees are in charge, the checks will be pretty tight.

Today one of the main shrill on telly was, is blocking those wimmin of today legal?

Yes, it was illegal. No, it was not contempt of court. The devotees did what the father of our nation used to do. They willingly and peacefully broke the law to make a point. Exactly like the following that happens often (except the peaceful part)

a) Chimittu Thozhilali (Headstrong workers) demanding 'nokku kooli' (watching wages, where you do the unloading, but they take money because it is their right)
b) Hartal.
c) Moral bolis.

Slight correction. It is no illegal but contempt of court verdict. They are practicing with Indian constitution-provided rights and laws. Now SC came with "interpretation" to "manipulate" the freedom of religion and practice laws to give verdict. Grieved party (devotees) are not party to any case to be informed to follow new verdict. They are going the way the have been doing. Verdict can be challenge-able but law remains the same. SC may over-ride state laws but Central laws are still in place.

[UlanBatori]

666th Airborne landing by parachute? All-wimmens? Road-runner show analogies come to mind.
But now time has been bought: about 3 weeks. Time enough for SC to put in a Stay while the situation is reviewed. Like Ayodhya case. All Petitioners will be waaaaay over 50 by the time the case comes up and by then they can stroll in, so no issue.

[UlanBatori]

Shyam: Any hope of a SC filing demanding Equality B4 The Law for yindoo temples with One Community and Another Community? Such a case, if well-framed, will be guaranteed to not be touched by SC, but a Stay can be obtained until it IS touched, hain? Trouble seems to be that ppl yak-yak about it but there is no formal case filed that is clearly thought-out.

[krisna]

Rajinikanth comments

No one should interfere in age-old traditions of Sabarimala, says Rajinikanth

Every temple has its time-honoured rituals, besides traditions being followed for a long time. My humble opinion is that no one should interfere in that,' Rajinikanth said.

[ShyamSP]

Shyam: Any hope of a SC filing demanding Equality B4 The Law for yindoo temples with One Community and Another Community? Such a case, if well-framed, will be guaranteed to not be touched by SC, but a Stay can be obtained until it IS touched, hain? Trouble seems to be that ppl yak-yak about it but there is no formal case filed that is clearly thought-out.

Word juggelry can make law framed in any which way. SC played with oxford-defined "denomination" to color the law to give verdict. Indian judges with "white wigs" and black suits are still implementing English law in Colonized country. Such institutions need to be abolished and "nativized"

Hyderabadi expression "Gaand me Dhum" (guts in your ass) is needed to defend your rights. Kerala devotees and women showed it. Hindus at large need to show it instead of hiding behind "law takes its course".

In USA, when institutions are against people, people have Second Amendement. Hindus need such right in India.

[UlanBatori]

Ppl may have 2nd amendment in Yoo Ess, but Polis have guns with license to kill, and 82nd Airborne to back that up. Trouble is that a consistent set of laws is essential for any sort of peaceful progress. SC's job is deciding what is consistent with the law and what is not. Indian SC has gone too much into Social Engineering which is one reason for present predicament - but "that's the way it was" is not an exemption from the Fundamental Rights. Now that His Divinity RK has Spoken, an army of 20 million could be raised in Karnataka and AP/TN to come and take over SM.
SC has caught Shri A's vahanam by the tail...

[ShyamSP]

https://swarajyamag.com/ideas/sabarimal ... Aq_w6HbPM0

"Being unable to enter one temple during a particular age range is a violation of no one’s constitutional rights. To deem it as such is to add to the already slippery slope where governance is left not with the persons elected by the people, but by the court elected by itself"

[ShyamSP]

Unfortunately government, constitution, courts never defined even widely used word "Secularism" and nation hasn't come to any agreement.
So all billion peoples' interpretations are all right and so is SC interpretation.

[Karthik S]

Looks like media persons are being evicted from sabarimalai? Why would that be?

[Pulikeshi]

Words like rational, etc. are being used without understanding that the Hindu traditions have a different framework.
It was science before science!
Brahmachari != Celibacy!!!

Atleast a civilized debate with good arguments on both sides... see around 19m for ex where A Ranganathan correctly concedes the legal point:
The Supremes don the role of the Thantri when they make the claim that they know the mind of the diety Ayyappa better than the Thantri
Legally, the court has done damage to the Diety’s rights in this case. Cultural and societal reform is a different question.
Ironically, the Supremes assumes that a Hindu Diety is the same as an Abhrahamic God - where there is synthetic equality.
Worse it wants to reform the wishes of its misunderstanding of this Hindu Diety.
Whereas it would never dare to reform the well understood Church or Mosque.
Therefore making it easy to claim the pusillanimity of this decision and a demeaning of the high intellect typically embodied in that institution.

This case clearly brings the deracinated to illumination as the anchor keeps claiming rights of the women to worship
only to be politely argued back by Ms. Pillai on whose right and whose religion?
Why is there a need to pursue uniformity from those who want to preserve diversity is the other ironic question for society!

Finally, the other critical point being - all motorhams claiming to be devotees visiting this diety, are ironically violating his prime directive!
A true women devotee of the discriminated age group and will not visit the temple, or one is an activist with other motivations ie not a devotee!
There is no middle ground - its that simple!

[Karthik S]

Internet services banned and mobile networks jammed. Is govt planning opn bluestar?

[syam]

The video is in Telugu.

She explains why we should follow the strict rules w.r.t. Sabarimala. It is related to tantrik way of worship. If you don't follow the rules, it will be harmful to the devotee. That's why the rules.

[Pulikeshi]

History will look upon her dissent kindly - glad we still have some smart Indian women in positions of power:

5 Key reasons why justice Indu Malhotra differed with the majority opinion

[Sachin]

Looks like media persons are being evicted from sabarimalai? Why would that be?

Internet services banned and mobile networks jammed. Is govt planning opn bluestar?

To be frank, I don't think Kerala Govt. and Kerala Police would make another attempt to "storm" Sabari Mala. But what they have done is to cause enough confusion and disharmony in the shrine. There was an implicit trust factor amongst the the Ayyappa devotees. That is now being questioned. K.P cannot sanitize Sabari Mala completely. They cannot evict every single devotee out of the temple, without leaving some sort of evidence. Mobile phones etc. still have video/audio recording facilities. With the stand of the chief priest etc now in the open, I don't think the commies would make another attempt. But yes, it becomes a (sad) responsibility of every Ayyappa to protect his faith.

[syam]

What happened in court and extra details about law and stuff.


This discussion has part 2 too. Check that one also.

[UlanBatori]

Cellphones are working fine from there apparently, and the Faithful are sleeping cozily like the Pro-Democracy Protestors in Tian An Men Square......

[abhijitm]

Exclusion is not discrimination. Otherwise there are hundreds or perhaps thousands of boys only/girls only schools. The same rule applies for them too. Every argument liberals throw for sabrimala applies to these schools. Apparently for them faith is more important than education?

[Kashi]

I believe the request from the SG to block the cell phone/internet services were denied by the Centre.

[SSridhar]

From a report in The Hindu,

The police strategy to identify the protesters and keep them away from Pampa, from where the 5-km trek to the shrine begins, and Sannidhanam (temple premises) did not work.

Many pilgrims from the neighbouring States of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka too were found voluntarily joining the protesters, demanding due protection of the custom and practices.

[sivab]

https://indianexpress.com/article/india ... t-5411819/

The royal family’s executive committee president, Sasikumara Varma, said his family has the right to give a direction to the thantri to close down the temple “Those who have doubt about the power of the family can inspect the documents. The thantri had accepted the direction realising our right to do so,”. he said.

Jayashankar
‏ @jaypanicker
6h6 hours ago

Representatives of Pandalam Royal Family Shri Sashikumara Varma and Shri Narayana Varma have come here to #Sabarimala . Contrary to the expectation of 'some quarters' that we would leave in the morning after darshan, they will be here till the temple closes - the real owners!

Jayashankar
‏ @jaypanicker

The Pandalam royals in Sannidhanam in the morning #Sabarimala

[sivab]

http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/ ... 88325.html

Sabarimala issue: No-donation campaign hits Devaswom Boards hard

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) is feeling the heat of devotees’ ire after it decided not to file a review petition against the Supreme Court verdict in the Sabarimala case.
Highly-placed sources in the TDB told Express that the revenue in temples has fallen by around 40 per cent after the TDB’s decision.

[sivab]

IG Sreejith had darsan with tears

[Sachin]

Today at Sabari Mala

• Sabarimala: SC to decide Tuesday date for hearing review pleas. Which means that the review petitions have all been accepted and would be considered. No out right rejections.
• Sabarimala report to be finalized today. The report will also list out the L&O situation and the challenges which the police faced when they tried to implement the order. Manu Abhishek Singvi is helping the Travancore Devaswom Board (which is a concern).
• BSNL transfers Rehna Fathima after Sabarimala trek. This is just a farce. She has been moved into a non-customer facing role, and to an office which is actually closer to her home .
• Young lady requests to trek temple: Police refuse security. The woman has been identified as Bindhu w/o Kamal C Chavara (who converted to Islam recently), and who is another "activist". Police has denied entry for her as well.

Looks like media persons are being evicted from sabarimalai? Why would that be?

From what I gleaned from social & main stream media. The police had asked some main stream news channels (not all) to vacate the place. Looks like the police has got some intelligence inputs that the crew of these channels would be whacked to pulp tonight when the temple closes down (at around 10 PM). Channels like Asianet news, Mathrubhumi News, Reporter TV etc were in the forefront of showing Sabari Mala and its devotees in poor light. These channels use the Supreme court verdict to speak ill against the hill temple and the devotees. Channels like Janam TV etc. have their crew still at Sabari Mala, because they have been very pro-Ayyappa devotees. The latest update is that police would not allow Ayyappa devotees to climb the hill after 7PM today, which also has triggered a rumor. That after 7PM the police would try to take up women up the hill.

She explains why we should follow the strict rules w.r.t. Sabarimala. It is related to tantrik way of worship. If you don't follow the rules, it will be harmful to the devotee. That's why the rules.

Such programmes should be made in every regional language (at least in the South Indian states). That would also ensure that the real women devotees would not turn up and only the "activists" turn up. It makes the job easier for the police.

From a report in The Hindu,

Chindu's reporter may have cried after writing that report, because this useless "progressive & liberal" news paper did not see what they wanted to see . The Kerala Govt and the police thought that the protestors could be easily identified and removed from the scene. But what happened was that every Ayyappa devotee became a protestor. In that case the police just cannot do any thing. "Professional protestors" like Rahul Eswar, BJP leaders etc. have all been whisked away.

IG Sreejith had darsan with tears

It may be surprising, but there is actually good support for the police from Ayyappa devotees itself. First there was a grand plan to deploy women PCs at Sannidhanam. But police intelligence reported that WPCs are not willing for this posting, and forcing them to do so may trigger a small mutiny. Many a devotee fully realises the plight of police officers like Sreejith. The aam police-wallah in Kerala is as religious as any one else. It is also because of their devotion that there are always lots of volunteers to Sabari Mala during the peak season (which would soon start). And at Sabari Mala the police always acts as guides and helpers, not as "law enforcers". IG Sreejith is a very religious man, makes a visit to Kollur Mookambika Temple in KA, every month.

And yes, the best way to hit back at the government is by NOT donating money to the temple. Ayyappa does not need money. This was a pilgrimage which was done with minimum expenses all these years. Even during the 1960s the Aravana payasam (the pudding) was made every night by the devotees themselves using the rice which they would have brought along. Today this pudding is made with no "holiness" attached to it, and is a neat way for the catering contractor to make some money.

[Javee]

I keep repeating this, hit them where it hurts the most, not just in Sabarimalai but across the state.