Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) which administrates lord Ayyapa’s pilgrim shrine in Sabarimala, is getting ready to hold ‘Yagna’ in hope of invoking a divine intervention for changing the ‘mindsets’ of people who are demanding entry of women in menstrual ages to the temple.
In a meeting of TDB office bearers on Monday, it was decided to hold ‘yagnas’ in all temples in Kerala that fall under the purview of TDB. It is learned that the statewide ‘Yagna’ program will be held on March 7.
“We are trying to use prayers as our weapon to counter all propaganda against the centuries-old rituals and traditions of the temple. At least 10 minutes of teple prayers will be held at the shrines as part of this. The prayers will address the principal deities of respective shrines,” TDB president Prayar Gopalakrishnan was quoted by PTI.
The apex court of the nation had recently questioned the tradition of ban on menstrual-age women in the temple. The court observed that gender discrimination of any kind could not be allowed as per the constitution of the country.
However, while considering a PIL in connection with the row, the court assured that contentions would be examined in-depth.
