Travancore Devaswom Board declares Perunad Temple as women's Sabarimala

While lawyer Naushad Ahmed Khan is fighting for the right of women to enter the famous Sabarimala Ayyappa temple in Kerala, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president Prayar Gopalakrishnan has now stated that the Perunad Sree Dharma Sastha temple will be declared as women’s Sabarimala.

The New Indian Express reports that Prayar Gopalakrishnan said that Perunad temple is the place where the Thiruvabharanam is adorned on the idol of the Lord Sastha on the return journey to Pandalam from Sabarimala on the second day. He added that more facilities will be provided for women devotees of Lord Ayyappa.Gopalakrishnan stated that 

Gopalakrishnan stated that Nadapandalal, medicated water, retiring facilities and toilets would be set up at the temple. The Thiruvabharanam procession halts on the second day here. Thus, devotees would be able to take the darshan of the Lord after adornment of Thiruvabharanam till 11.30 pm.

However, women between the age of 10 to 50 years would not be allowed to go to Pampa, where the 'arattu' ceremony of Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa is held. Thus, women devotees could take part in the ‘balitharpan’ ceremony which will be held at Pampa on New Moon day in the Malayalam month of Vrischikam in the name of ‘Jatayu’, adds the report. For women to take part in ‘balitharpan’ at Triveni, there would be a separate bathing ghat that would be built added the TDB president.