A day before Sabarimala temple opens, Kerala CM convenes all-party meet with Congress, BJP in attendance

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan convened and all party meet Thursday in Thiruvananthapuram, a day before the famed Sabarimala hilltop shrine opens for a two-month pilgrimage after intense agitations erupted following the Supreme Court of India order allowing entry of women between 10 to 50 years of age into the temple.

The Congress and the BJP had earlier protested against the order and demanded a review.

The party meeting today saw attendance from both opposition parties, after the apex court refused to stay the September 28 verdict and adjourned the hearing of review petitions to January 22, next year. 48 petitions had been filed against its judgment.

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Thiruvananthapuram: #Visuals from the all party meeting called by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to discuss the issues related to Sabarimala Temple ahead of pilgrim season. #Kerala pic.twitter.com/I23y4rR92X

— ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2018

The temple had been opened twice following the September verdict, but no woman had been allowed to enter it. Media crews and journalists were also reportedly attacked during the agitations.

Women from age of 10-50/ menstrual age were banned from entering the temple since the lord diety in the shrine, Lord Ayyapa is considered a celibate.