New Delhi, November 14: Amidst strong sentiments against the Supreme Court's verdict allowing women in the 10-50 age group into the Sabarimala temple in Kerala, gender equality activist Trupti Desai on Wednesday said she will visit the shrine on November 17. Trupti Desai has written to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan seeking security for her visit to Sabarimala temple.

Trupti Desai, who heads the Pune-based Bhumata Brigade, has played a significant role in opening up to women shrines like Mumbai's Haji Ali Dargah and Shani Shingnapur temple in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district that were hitherto closed to them. Rahul Eashwar, a member of the Sabarimala tantric family has requested Desai to desist from coming to the temple. Sabarimala Row: All-party Meeting in Kerala on November 15.

"We will be staging a protest in true Gandhian style if there is any attempt to break the traditions and culture of the temple. We request her to pray in other Ayyappa temples in the state and not at the Sabarimala temple," Eashwar told the media. Kerala BJP chief PS Sreedharan Pillai also said that Desai should not challenge the emotions and feelings of the devotees Lord Ayyappa. History of Sabarimala: Why Women Weren't Allowed Into The Lord Ayyappa Shrine.

On September 28, the Supreme Court delivered its verdict against the age-old tradition that banned the entry of women of menstruating age between 10 and 50 years into the Sabarimala temple. Despite massive protests against the entry of all females into the temple, the Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to stay its earlier order.

A fresh two-month festival season at Sabarimala starts on November 16 when the authorities expect more protests. (With agency inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 14, 2018 02:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).