Lord Ayyappa devotees, a majority of them women, will converge at Jantar Mantar at Delhi to take out a prayer march to protest the Supreme Court verdict on Sabarimala temple. Organisers said they are expecting more than 25,000 devotees in Delhi and NCR to join the peaceful protest. The march will start at 3 pm.
According to a statement issued by organisers, Delhi Malayalees and Hindu Religious Organisations are deeply saddened by the stand taken by the Left Front government of Kerala in not considering the sentiments of the Ayyappa devotees.
“We appeal to the government of Kerala to frame necessary enactments exclusively for the Sabarimala Temple in line with the Guruvayoor Devaswom Act, 1978, since it is expedient to provide an enactment in the public interest and in the interest of the worshipers of the Sabarimala temple for a proper administration of the temple in accordance with law and also to make regulations for the maintenance of order and decorum of the temple and for the due observance of the rites and ceremonies and other usages in the temple,” said Vijayan.
Hindu organisations appealed to the government for an urgent introduction of a Bill in the legislative assembly or an ordinance for preserving the old-age traditions, custom and rituals of the Sabarimala temple.
It is worth mentioning here that as per the Kerala Hindu Religious belief, opinion of the “Thanthri” of a temple is considered to be the final/authoritative word in matters pertaining to the religion. We wish to invite the attention of the government of Kerala to Section 35 of the Guruvayoor Devaswom Act, 1978 (under which the Guruvayoor Temple properly functioning, wherein, it was specifically mentioned that the Thanthri to be the final authority in religious matters.
They also urged the government to make necessary amendments in Kerala Hindu Places of Worship Act, 1965 to ensure that religious practices in connection with the entry to a temple are strictly followed.
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