The Travancore Devaswom Board, that manages the Sabarimala temple, on Tuesday skipped a discussion on the review petition that it plans to file against the Supreme Court order allowing the entry of women of all ages into the Lord Ayappa temple.

The board, however, reviewed the arrangements at the hill shrine for the upcoming three-month long Mandala-Makaravillaku festival starting from November 16, news agency PTI reported quoting temple sources.
 
The Report quoted temple sources as saying that the discussion on the legal course to be taken against the court's order was postponed as the writ petitions connected with the case has been posted for November 13.

The Supreme Court Tuesday said it would hear on November 13 multiple petitions challenging the Sabarimala verdict allowing entry of women of all age groups into the shrine that remained unimplemented following week-long protests.

The board on Monday had stated that it would take up for discussion the matter Tuesday. It had said that it has the legal responsibility to protect the faith of devotees and the customs and traditions of the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa shrine.

Commenting on the ongoing agitation in Kerala against the Supreme Court verdict on Sabarimala, Union minister Smriti Irani on Tuesday said that the right to pray did not mean the right to desecrate.

“I am nobody to speak against the Supreme Court verdict as I am a serving cabinet minister. But just plain common sense is that would you carry a napkin seeped with menstrual blood and walk into a friend’s house? You would not,” Smriti Irani said.

“And would you think it is respectful to do the same when you walk into the house of god? That is the difference,” she added.

Smriti Irani’s comments invited criticism from a section of people who expressed their disagreement on Twitter and other social media platforms.

Later in the day, Irani posted a series of tweets while referring to the event and the comments made by her there.  “Since many people are talking about my comments let me comment on my comment,” she wrote.

“As a practising Hindu married to a practising Zoroastrian I am not allowed to enter a fire temple to pray.  “I respect that stand by the Zoroastrian community/priests and do not approach any court for a right to pray as a mother of 2 Zoroastrian children. Similarly Parsi or non Parsi menstruating women irrespective of age DO NOT go to a Fire Temple,” she tweeted.

She said these are “2 factual statements” and “Rest of the propaganda/agenda being launched using me as bait is well just that ... bait.”

Reacting to those criticising her for her comments made at the event in the morning, Irani said, “As far as those who jump the gun regarding women visiting friend’s place with a sanitary napkin dipped in menstrual blood I am yet to find a person who takes a blood soaked napkin to offer to any one let alone a friend.

“But what fascinates me though does not surprise me is that as a woman I am not free to have my own point of view. As long as I conform to the liberal point of view I’m acceptable. How Liberal is that ??”