Bindu Ammini, a lawyer and an activist, who was one of the first women in Kerala to enter Sabarimala following the Supreme Court verdict in 2018, has written an open letter to the state Chief Minister seeking permission to participate in the global Ayyappa Sangamam.

In her letter, shared on Facebook, Ammini said she wants “to share the stage with the other participants of the Ayyappa Sangam in Pampa and express my position as a representative on behalf of women.”

She expressed her disappointment over the government’s decision not to allow women aged 10 to 50 to participate as representatives, adding that it “hurts my self-respect as a woman.”

Ammini recalled that following the Supreme Court verdict, women were allowed to enter the Shani temple in Maharashtra, where the state government made all necessary arrangements, and thousands of women have already visited. She also pointed to ongoing reforms in Tamil Nadu, where temples historically closed to Dalits are gradually being opened, reflecting the constitutional principle of equality.

She highlighted that young women were denied darshan at Sabarimala because of a custom the Supreme Court deemed “anti-women and unconstitutional.” Ammini said it was only because the Kerala government implemented the Court’s order and provided security that she was able to enter the temple. She urged the state to uphold women’s dignity and equality and ensure safety and arrangements for her and other women who wish to visit Sabarimala during the Sangam.

Ammini requested the Kerala government to uphold women’s dignity and equality and allow her participation at the Ayyappa Sangam on the banks of the Pampa River on September 20, 2025. She said, “I hope that your leadership will make Kerala, which has always been at the forefront in the country, a model for women empowerment for the entire country.”

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