The Sabarimala shrine is all set to open for the two-month-long pilgrim season on Saturday evening at 5 pm. The CPI(M)-led LDF Kerala government has been making preparations to make it a hassle-free experience.

On Friday, the state government indicated that it would not“take young women to the Sabarimala temple” due to the “grey areas” in the Supreme Court’s judgment in the case. The apex court had put a batch of review petitions on hold and referred the matter to a larger bench on Thursday. Lastyear, the government had said it would implement the top court’s order, which allowed women to enter the shrine. The Travancore Devas wom Board (TDB), which manages the Ayyappa shrine, has also sought legal opinion on the apex court’s directive.

The board has made elaborate arrangements to provide maximumamenities to the devotees. The pilgrims will be allowed to leave for the shrinefrom Pamba and Nilackal by 2 pm today. The resting places for the devotees atNilackal, Pamba and Sannidhanam has already been set up along with medical,water and toilet facilities.Over 10,000 police personnel have been posted inand around the Lord Ayyappa temple for security purposes during the pilgrimseason.

Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran made it clear Fridaythat Sabarimala was not a place for activists to display their activism andsaid the government would not encourage such women who want to visit the shrinefor publicity.Those who want to visit the temple can procure a court order toenter the temple, he said.

The state and temple precincts had witnessed protests lastyear as women tried to offer prayers at the shrine. For centuries women in themenstruating age group of 10-50 years were barred from entering the temple.