Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan visits Sabarimala

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan trekked up the Sabarimala hill wearing traditional "Bead Mala" and carrying "Irumudi Kettu" on his head like every devotee. Khan made the darshan of Lord Ayyappa on Sunday.

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Sunday paid a visit to Sabarimala shrine to have a darshan of Lord Ayyappa.

Trekking up the hill for five kilometres, he wore the traditional "Bead Mala" and carried the "Irumudi Kettu" on his head, like all devotees.

Sabarimala shrine sparked controversy after the Supreme Court in 2018 permitted women of menstrual age, 10-50 year, to enter the shrine. According to traditions, women of menstrual age were not allowed to enter the shrine as the deity is said to be in celibate form.

The Left Democratic Front government under Pinarayi Vijayan had announced it would implement the apex court verdict. But it led to massive protests, led by the BJP-RSS, and devotees blocked any woman who tried to enter. The Left's debacle in the 2019 general elections is attributed to the Sabarimala issue.

Meanwhile, the issue is being revisited by a larger bench of the Supreme Court.

IANS