Nilakkal, December 18: The chief priest of Sabarimala temple in Kerala on Monday allowed four transgenders to offer prayers at the Lord Ayyappa shrine. The transgenders were earlier stopped from heading towards Sabarimala temple. The permission was granted after intervention by DGP A Hemachandran, a member of the Kerala High Court-appointed supervisory panel, and Inspector General of Police Manoj Abraham.
Ananya, one of the four, told the media on Monday that they had met the DGP with their demands and wished to pray in the dress of their choice — a saree. “He (Hemachandran) has said he will check with the other two committee members and get back to us and he also asked us to meet IG of Police Manoj Abraham. Now we have got the permission to pray at the temple and we will be soon going for the darshan,” the transgender said.
The police will provide protection to them if required. “They may go to Sabarimala at an appropriate time,” Hemachandran told PTI. On December 16, the four transgenders, who came from Ernakulam, were stopped by the police at Erumely, the first base camp of the temple town. The police told them to dress like men to enter Sabarimala temple. However, later they were denied permission to visit the Lord Ayyappa shrine.
Ananya alleged they were subjected to ridicules, threats and were asked to return by the police. On Monday, they arrived in the state capital to meet Hemachandran. The Kerala High Court on November 27 had set up a three-member observer panel to oversee the Sabarimala pilgrimage season, after numerous complaints surfaced against the manner in which the police were acting in the temple town.
Hindu groups have been protesting against the September 28 Supreme Court verdict that allowed women of all ages to enter the temple, including those hitherto banned girls and women aged between 10 and 50. Several women of ‘banned’ age tried to enter Sabarimala temple with police protection, but were sent back by protesters. PTI
