INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightGetty ImagesImage caption
The entry of two women into the Sabarimala temple sparked angry scenes
Violent protests have paralysed the southern Indian state of Kerala after two women made history by entering a prominent Hindu
temple.Schools across the state are closed and public transport too has been suspended
One person was killed in clashes on Wednesday
The Sabarimala temple was historically closed to women of "menstruating age" - defined as between 10 and 50.The Supreme Court revoked the
ban in September, which prompted outrage.On Wednesday, Bindu Ammini, 40, and Kanaka Durga, 39, entered the shrine around dawn and became the
Image:Sabarimala: Women defy historic temple banThursday saw a second day of protests across the state
Right-wing groups, supported by India's ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), demanded a state-wide shutdown
They wanted schools, colleges and businesses to remain closed as a sign of protest
The state government, which supports the Supreme Court ruling, stepped up security and deployed police across the state for protection
But fearing violence, schools and shops were closed
And buses did not run as protesters blocked highways and other roads.How big are these protestsViolence broke out in several cities and
towns on Wednesday as groups of protesters clashed with police, who fired tear gas to disperse crowds
Image copyrightKaviyoor SantoshImage caption
Police used tear gas to break up protests
Police told news
agency AFP that at least 15 people were injured after protesters hurled stones at them
According to local media reports, around 100 people have been arrested by police in one district, where a mob assaulted a woman police
More arrests across the state are expected, police told TheIndianSubcontinent Hindi's Imran Qureshi
They added that they have also detained two people in connection with the death of a man during the protests on Wednesday.Image caption
Shops were closed as they feared violence
Several journalists were also attacked in the protests that
engulfed the state capital, Thiruvathapuram
Police said they are investigating the matter
Indian airlines have issued warnings to passengers travelling to Kerala
Why has the issue become so politicalThe Kerala state government supports the court verdict and Mr Vijayan has repeatedly said his
government will provide the security to enforce it.But India's ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has argued that the
court ruling is an attack on Hindu values.The issue has become increasingly contentious in the run-up to India's general election, scheduled
Critics have accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of pursuing a religiously divisive agenda to court the BJP's mostly-Hindu support
base.Even the protests have turned into an ideological battle between the right and the left - most of the protesters belong to right-wing
groups affiliated to the BJP; and those who support the court ruling are affiliated to Kerala's left-wing coalition government
Why are women of a certain age not allowed to enter SabarimalaThe Supreme Court decision to let women worship at the Sabarimala shrine came
after a petition argued that the custom banning them violated gender equality.Hinduism regards menstruating women as unclean and bars them
from participating in religious rituals - but most temples allow women to enter as long as they are not menstruating, rather than banning
women in a broad age group from entering at all.Protesters have consistently argued that the court ruling goes against the wishes of the
temple's deity, Lord Ayyappa.Image copyrightGetty ImagesImage caption
Devotees believe Lord Ayyappa is a an avowed
bachelor
They say that the ban on women entering Sabarimala is not about menstruation alone - it is also in keeping with the
wish of the deity, who is believed to have laid down clear rules about the pilgrimage to seek his blessings.According to the temple's
mythology, Lord Ayyappa is an avowed bachelor who has taken an oath of celibacy and hence, women of a certain age are not allowed into the
