Set on the hill top of Sabarimala in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, the temple of Lord Ayyappa is the revered deity of South India. He is believed to be the son of Lord Shiva, raised in the family of King of Pandala. At young age , the heir apparent, Lord Ayyappa relinquished  his throne and palace comforts to set abode in the deep forests of Sabari hills, here, it is believed He attained divinity. He had loyal followers like Vavar, a muslim warrior. Since ages, lakhs of devotees from the state of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and more, have been thronging the Sabarimala.

Lord Ayyayppan is believed to be eternal celibate. Sabarimala is open to all devotees of religion, caste and creed except women in their menstruating age that is between 10 years to 50 years. This rule has been following by the devout followers through centuries. But in an historic verdict, on September 28, 2018, the Supreme Court lifted the ban explaining that according to Indian Constitution, no woman can be discriminated against on any ground, even in religious places.

While the verdict is hailed as progressive and liberal, but it has been shunned by thousands of pious devotees. There were hundreds of agitations in the state, as the devotees and the Pandala family who resented the overturn of traditions which has been respected and followed from time immemorial.

For the ruling government CPI(M), this is a difficult situation as they have to follow the Supreme Court orders yet the sentiments of thousands of devout followers cannot to be negated. The state government has promised special security to any female devotee who desires to pay obeisance to Lord Ayyappan. Yet six days of tense standoff between protestors and police has bore no result. Despite several attempts, none of the female devotees have been able to enter the shrine premises.

The controversy has made different people take different emotional stance. The Union Minister Smriti Irani, has put forth the view that everyone has the right to pray, but one must observe the sanctity of a place of worship. Her comment of taking sanitary napkins seeped in menstrual blood to a friend's home, had people see red. Some questioned how an educated minister take such archaic stand. But Smriti Irani stood her ground and explained that Liberal thinking means to accept a personal and divergent view point.

Thus, Sabarimala controversy seems to move to deadlock, where the public in favour of the ban wants the Kerala government to request  review of the verdict or an ordinance pertaining to the ban. Till then, as the Mandala month or the annual pilgrimage season commence on November 16, will this battle of ideology or battle of tradition find any solution?