No entry for women in Sabarimala: Hindu organisations

Kochi, July 28 (UNI) A meeting of Hindu religious organisations here today asserted there should be no change in the age-old custom barring women in the 10-50 year age group from entering the renowned hill shrine of Sabarimala in Kerala.

Talking to newspersons here after the meeting, Rahul Easwar, the grandson of Sabarimala Chief Tantri Kandararu Maheshwaru, said the meeting unanimously warned the government not to interfere in the affairs of the temple.

Mr Easwar said today's meeting was called on behalf of the Sabarimala Tantri family. Chief priest Kandararu Maheshwaru was to chair the meeting but could not as he was not feeling well.

The meeting was presided over by A D Krishnan Asan, a representative of the Tantri family.

Mr Easwar said the meeting was attended by 58 representatives of 24 prominent Hindu organisations including the VHP, Hindu Aikyavedi, Yogakshema Sabha, SC&ST Forum, Akshaya Kalapeedom and the All India Brahmin Sabha.

The SNDP and the NSS, the two powerful organisations representing the Ezhava and Nair groups, were not invited for today's meeting and separate talks would be held with them later, Mr Easwar said.

In two other resolutions, the meeting today demanded that Kerala Devaswom Minister G Sudhakaran apologise for stating in the State Assembly that people who consume alcohol also go to Sabarimala.

It also demanded that the state government must revoke its decision to give the Raja Ravi Varma Award to noted painter M F Hussain as he had painted 'Bharat Mata', 'Sita' and 'Saraswati' in a derogatory manner.

Earlier, talking to newspersons, Mr Krishnan said there was no demand from women in Kerala to enter the Sabarimala temple.

He said an informal survey by him of 200 households in the state had revealed that not a single woman wanted a change in the temple-entry norms.

He charged certain politicians with trying to rake up a controversy on the issue.

UNI