Mary Sweety, a 46-year-old woman who had earlier worked as a media professional in the Gulf, made a second attempt to enter Sabarimala temple on Saturday, according to a report by NDTV.
A native of Kazhakkoottam, Thiruvanathapuram, Mary Sweety reportedly took a train to Chengannur, about 30 km from Sabarimala, and boarded a Kerala Road Transport Corporation bus before she was stopped by the police, who convinced her to return to Thiruvananthapuram. Protesters also gathered in front of the bus chanting Ayyappa slogans, insisting that she turn back.
The last time she made a bid to enter the shrine was on October 19, soon after Rehana Fathima and Kavitha’s abortive and dramatic attempts. Mary Sweety had told policemen then that “her body was full of divine power motivating her to climb.” Police at that time declined to provide her protection to climb the hill or enter the shrine.
The Sabarimala temple is currently open for the third time after the controversial September 28 ruling by the Supreme Court allowing women to enter the temple, and for the first time since it decided to review its earlier verdict, which was announced on November 13. The SC will hear arguments of 49 review petitions on January 22, two days after Sabarimala temple closes after the currently ongoing Mandalam-Makaravilakku season, against its earlier verdict. The SC has said that no stay can be ordered on its previous verdict, meaning that women of all ages are currently legally allowed to enter the temple as per the September 28 ruling.
In this ongoing pilgrimage season, which began on November 16, the hill has seen sporadic unrest. On Saturday, KP Sasikala, the president of the Hindu Aikya Vedi, was taken into preventive custody at 1.30 am. Though she had told the police that she wanted to visit the temple as she was a devotee and was above 50 years of age, police suspect that she wants to be near the temple only to organise protests. She was granted bail later in the day. On Sunday morning, at 3 am, BJP Kerala State General Secretary K Surendran and two other BJP leaders were remanded to 14 days of judicial custody, after being arrested at Nilakkal on Saturday evening.