Kerala minister says woman who entered Sabarimala barred as Ayyappa conclave is for true devotees; Netizens ask how trueness is judged

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan on Sunday said activist Bindu Ammini, who entered the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple in 2019, will not be invited to the upcoming Global Ayyappa Sangamam.

“She won’t be allowed to take part in the Ayyappa Sangamam at any cost,” Vasavan said in a television interview. He explained that the event, organised by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) with state government support, is for true devotees who regularly visit Sabarimala and representatives of pilgrimage-linked outfits. “She does not belong to any such categories. So, there is no need to invite her,” he added.

The minister was responding to reports that Ammini had written to the government expressing her desire to attend the Sangamam. Earlier, she had also posted a news card about the event on social media, captioned in Malayalam: “I too, as an Ayyappa devotee, will attend. Will you?” 

Meanwhile, after Vasavan’s comments, Ammini again took to social media, asking whether the ban applied only to her or also to “the Kerala Chief Minister and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, who are not true devotees either.”

Netizens’ sharp responses

Her posts triggered strong online debate. Netizens accused the government of double standards, with some mocking the idea of testing true devotion through “a machine.” Others alleged the move was a ritual response to an “Ayyappa curse” after women’s entry. Questions were also raised on whether her exclusion was linked to her Dalit identity, with some pointing out her role as a symbol of gender equality in Kerala’s political history.

The Sabarimala context

Bindu Ammini, along with Kanaka Durga, entered the shrine on January 2, 2019, under police protection, becoming the first women of menstruating age to do so after the Supreme Court’s September 2018 ruling. The verdict, citing Articles 14, 15 and 25, struck down the ban on women, with the Pinarayi Vijayan government declaring it a constitutional responsibility to implement.

The move sparked Ayyappa Jyothi demonstrations, counter-processions, hartals and violent protests across Kerala, dividing society between tradition and gender equality. In response, the government organised the women’s wall on January 1, 2019, where 62 lakh women participated. Ammini has since faced repeated attacks for her role.

Sangamam anniversary event

The Global Ayyappa Sangamam will be held on September 20 at Pampa, as part of the Travancore Devaswom Board’s 75th anniversary. The minister’s refusal, Ammini’s letter, and subsequent online reactions have reignited political debate in the state ahead of the event.