Kochi, October 17: Amid tight security, the Sabarimala Temple was opened to women of all age groups on Wednesday for the first time since the Supreme Court announced its verdict. The portals of the temple opened at 5 pm on Wednesday and will remain open till October 22. According to a tweet by ANI, the devotees can offer prayers till 10.30 pm Wednesday. Thousands of devotees took part in a motorcycle rally as part of a protest against the lifting of bathe n by Supreme Court that allowed entry of women to the temple. Why Sabarimala Didn’t Allow Women into The Shrine in Kerala; All About The History of The Ayyappan Temple.

Earlier in the day, women journalists were heckled, their vehicles were vandalised and young female Ayyappa devotees turned back as activists blocked the road leading to the Sabarimala temple. The protestors wore black and saffron turbans, violently pounding and kicking the vehicles in a bid to stop the women devotees from proceeding to Pamba from Nilackal on way to Sabarimala.

Amid the ongoing protest, activist Rahul Easwar was arrested at Pamba at the foothill from where the trek to the shrine begins. Easwar is the front-ranking leader of the protesters and votary of the continuance of the tradition barring girls and women between 10 and 50 years from entering the temple, a custom which the Supreme Court overturned on September 28.

In September, a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, in its 4:1 verdict, said banning entry of women to Kerala's Sabarimala temple is gender discrimination and the practice violates rights of Hindu women. The top Court's verdict allowed entry of women of all ages into the Ayyappa temple, was "disappointing", but the shrine board will accept it, Sabarimala head priest Kandararu Rajeevarau had said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 17, 2018 05:39 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).