Transperson calls off trek to Sabarimala
Poonkuzhi aged below 50 came along with a 15-member group, including six transpersons and nine men, around noon.
PAMPA: A transgender hailing from Mumbai had to cancel her trekking to Sabarimala from Pampa on Tuesday following police warning against possible protests against her.
Poonkuzhi aged below 50 came along with a 15-member group, including six transpersons and nine men, around noon. Her ID card mentioned her as 'female.' Following police advice, the group asked Poonkuzhi to remain at Pampa.
Eswari, another transgender in the group, too stayed along with Poonk-uzhi. The rest of the team continued their journey to the temple.
The transgender group, which started from Mum-bai on January 2, had come along with a group of men from Tamil Nadu. The trans people are not barred from worshipping at Sabarimala.
The pilgrims continued to flock to Sabarimala on Tuesday though the Mak-aravilakku season ended on Monday. The temple remains open till January 19 for monthly pujas.
At least 26,600 pilgrims passed through the metal detector at Pampa trekking point on Tuesday.
A ritual of Ambalap-puzha- Alangad group, which accompanies the Thiruvabharanam procession, was also held at Sannidhanam.
The temple will be closed after Guruti ritual at Malikappuram on Janu-ary 19 night. The sanctum sanctorum will be closed after facilitating the worship by the royal representative and the Thiruva-bharanam will be taken back to Pandalam in a procession.