Nilakkal, January 6: Three Malaysian women of Tamil origin visited Sabarimala temple before Bindu Ammini and Kanakadurga who were formally declared as the first women to have prayed at the hill shrine since the historic September 28 Supreme Court verdict. The Malaysian women visited Sabarimala temple on January 1. A video of the three women also surfaced, showing them with their faces covered with shawls.

The Malaysian women visited the temple early morning on January 1 and returned to Pamba by around 10 am, sources in Kerala police told TOI. While Cops confirmed their visit to the temple, they refrain from saying whether the women had darshan at Sabarimala. The identities of the women were not revealed by the police. They were part of a team of 25 pilgrims belonging to the Tamil community in Malaysia. Sabarimala Row: 47-Year-Old Woman Devotee Suffers Panic Attack Enroute Shrine as Protesters Heckle Her.

Violent protests broke out across Kerala after two women of menstruating age Bindu and Kanakadurga entered the shrine on January 2. Protesters pelted stones, blocked highways and forced the closure of shops and markets located in various parts the region. Several parties including BJP also held a protest march in several parts of the state against the entry of women into the hilltop shrine. Sabarimala Temple 'Purified' After Visit of Two Women of Menstruating Age to Sanctum Sanctorum.

On January 4, a 46-year-old Sri Lankan woman had walked up the '18 Holy Steps', but was allegedly not allowed to go further. According to sources in police, there are unconfirmed reports of least four more women below 50 having visited Sabarimala since January 1, taking the total number to 10, reported TOI.

Traditionally, girls and women in the menstruating age group of 10-50 years were barred from offering prayers at the temple, the presiding deity of which is 'Naishtika Brahmachari' (perennial celibate). However, the Supreme Court on September 28 had struck down the tradition and allowed women of all age group to visit the sanctum sanctorum of Sabarimala temple.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 06, 2019 08:32 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).