Pathanamthitta, Nov 18: The revenue of Sabarimala temple has crossed Rs 3 crores in the first days of Mandalam season. The temple was opened on November 16 for the 41-day long annual Mandala-Makaravilakku Puja festival.

The total revenue of the first two days this year was Rs 3.32 crore while the amount was Rs 2.42 crores. The temple received Rs 1 crore as donation and offering in two days that is Rs 25 lakhs more from 2017. Sabarimala Temple Opens as 41-Day Annual Pilgrimage Begins, No Special Police Protection For Women Devotees.

The opening of the shrine comes days after a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court had referred a clutch of petitions seeking review of its order which paved the way for the entry of women into Sabarimala temple in Kerala to a larger seven-judge bench by a majority 3:2 ruling.

The top court also observed that the right to worship by an individual cannot outweigh the rights of a religious group. The Supreme Court had lifted a traditional ban on entry of women of menstrual age (10-50 years) on September 28 last year.

Despite the apex court's ruling, a string of protests took place at the Sabarimala temple and its surrounding areas in the state, when several women attempted to visit the shrine but were stopped by Lord Ayyappa devotees. On Saturday, at least 10 women, aged between 10 to 50 years, were sent back from Pamba base camp which is nearly 6 km downhill from the temple.

The police did not let the women -- all residents of Andhra Pradesh -- trek up to the temple. Notably, the Kerala government has made it clear that it would not provide security to any woman of menstruating age visiting the shrine, as per Devaswom Board Minister K Surendran.

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