Kerala: 3 lakh devotees, including 539 women, sign up digital crowd management system at Sabarimala Temple

Thiruvananthapuram: At least three lakh devotees, including 539 women in the age group between 10 to 50 years, registered on the online portal started by Kerala police for implementing Digitised Crowd Management System (DCMS) at Sabarimala Temple.

Last month, the state police had announced the DCMS initiative in an effort to make devotees visit hassle-free.

Devotees can opt for their preferred date and time to visit the 12th-century shrine, bookings for which can be done through the official website.

Devotees can also fix darshan timings and book bus tickets from Nilakkal to Pamba. The booking will be valid for 48 hours.

Kerala has been on a boil after the September 28 Supreme Court verdict permitting women of all age groups into the Sabarimala temple with right wing and Hindu outfits on a warpath over the state government's decision to go ahead and implement the top court verdict.

The hill shrine had recently witnessed protests by devotees against the attempt by some young women, including journalists, to enter the temple.

The day also saw the Kerala High Court coming down on the recent agitation at Sabarimala.

The court on Thursday turned down a bail plea by a man arrested last month, saying protests against the entry of women to the Sabarimala temple were unacceptable.

"The protests at Sabarimala are not acceptable as it is against the verdict of the Supreme Court," a High Court bench said, rejecting the request for bail by Kochi resident Govind Madhusudhan.

With agency inputs