Gates of the Sabarimala temple open today for the first time since Supreme Court lifted an age old ban on women of menstruating age from offering prayers inside the temple. Heavy security has been deployed outside the temple, as women who took the trek were stopped and pushed away from moving to the shrine. As many as 11 protesters have been arrested. The protesters who claim that the celibate status of Ayyappa needs to be protected are in open rebellion against the Supreme Court. While the Supreme Court said that devotion should not and cannot exclude faith, the protesters say that they won't compromise on their faith.
