47-year-old Srilankan woman becomes first to climb the 18 steps at Sabarimala

Kerala: CCTV visuals obtained from Sabarimala temple has confirmed the entry of 47-year-old Srilankan woman into the sanctum sanctorum at Sabarimala temple on Thursday night.


Kerala: CCTV visuals obtained from Sabarimala temple has confirmed the entry of 47-year-old Srilankan woman into the sanctum sanctorum at Sabarimala temple on Thursday night.



The woman, Sasikala becomes the first woman in below 50 age group to scale up the 18 holy steps and have darshan at the hilltop Sabarimala temple.

The visuals released by Kerala police and released by TOI which was captured by the surveillance camera at the temple shows the woman having accompanied by a male member emerging out Shreekoil after darshan.

The woman a native of Karaitivu at Srilanka had 'irumudikattu' on her head and was present at the main sannidhanam at 10.45 pm on Thursday night.

Keralites Bindu and Kanaka Durga both in their early forties did the feat of offering worship at the Sabarimala Aiyyappan temple, however they were accompanied by police and was taken through the staff entrance, thus avoiding the holy steps.

While trekking down to Pamba, Sasikala told the press that she did not climb the 18 steps, as police returned here from near 18 steps. 

“I am a devotee and I have come here after observing 48 days vrita. I am afraid of none”, she said. 

She had trekked the 5.5 km route on bare foot. Sources in the police said Sasikala had to publicly deny having darshan as she was concerned about the safety. 

"The crew of journalists and suspected protesters terrorised her and husband. She told us that they wanted to go out from Sabarimala safely as they have plans to visit a few other temples before returning”, said a senior police officer to TOI.

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