Girija Lokesh

Bangalore: Close on the heels of the claim of Kannada film star Jayamala about having entered the Sabarimala Temple in Kerala and even touching the feet of the deity, another film actor, Girija Lokesh, has revealed her own visit to that temple.

It is of interest that both of them had visited the Sabarimala Temple in the same year, 1987.

Ms. Girija Lokesh, who was speaking to a television channel on Monday, however, doubted the claim of Ms. Jayamala that she had entered the sanctum sanctorum and even touched the feet of the deity. It might not be possible as there would be priests and others around, she said. About her visit, Ms. Girija Lokesh said she went to Ayyappa temple along with her then 12-year-old daughter, son and some relatives. She did not speak of entering the sanctum sanctorum. Ms. Girija Lokesh was critical of the tradition followed by the Sabarimala Temple management of barring women into the temple. It was all the more surprising that such a tradition was being followed in a State which had a high rate of literacy. It was "mean and narrow minded". However the claim of Ms. Jayamala was surprising and she could not believe it.

At a press conference on Monday, the swamiji of Pejawar Math, Vishvesha Tirtha, declined to comment on the tradition followed by the Sabarimala Temple.He noted that there was no blanket ban on women visiting that temple. Only girls and women in the age 10 to 50 group were barred.

However, the subject of the ban on women visiting the temple did not come up in the Legislative Assembly on Monday.

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