Teen girl held en route Sabari

Kochi: Days after a 31-year-old woman was caught attempting to enter Sabarimala Ayyappa temple, a 15-year-old girl, also from Andhra Pradesh, was detained by alert Devaswom staff at Pamba on Tuesday morning just as she was about to trek the forest path to the Sannidhanam.

Madhunandhita, a resident of Nellore in Andhra Pradesh, arrived at Pamba along with a 15-member devotee group.

"She was all dressed up like a boy and was walking among the group. However, the alert women staff of the Devaswom Board detained her before the Pamba guard room. During questioning she confessed to be 15," police said.

The rest of the group members were allowed to trek and she was allowed to join the group after they returned post-afternoon.

As per the age-old tradition, female devotees in the 10-50 years age group are not permitted to trek the forest path or offer prayers at the hill shrine since the deity is believed to be celibate.

On Sunday last, 31-year old Vanarasi Paravathy, a native of Khammam in Andhra Pradesh, was stopped by police personnel on duty at 'Valiyanadapandal' just before the holy 18 steps. Upon checking her identity card, she was found to be only 31 years of age and was sent back.