Pathanamthitta: Pandalam Palace representative Sasikumara Varma has said he is ready for talks that would amicably solve the Sabarimala impasse.

“The chief minster should take the initiative for dialogues. Incidents like those that happened during Mandalam season should not repeat. As custodians of the temple, the royal family is pained by the decline in pilgrim numbers,” Varma said.

The state had witnessed widespread violent protests for several days from January 2 after the LDF government confirmed that two women of child-bearing age entered the shrine. Bindu, a 42-year-old college lecturer from Kozhikode district's Koyilandy, and Kanakadurga, 44, a civil supplies department employee from Angadipuram in Malappuram, entered the Sabarimala shrine on January 2.

The unprecedented protests at the temple and nearby areas had drastically affected the number of pilgrims at the temple.

Erroneous list

The Kerala government told the Supreme Court Friday said 51 women of child-bearing age have entered Sabarimala temple since the Supreme Court lifted the bar on the entry of 10-50 age group on September 28, 2018.

But the affidavit triggered a controversy after it made public details of the Aadhaar and telephone numbers of the 51 women with one of those mentioned turning out to be a man. Several women denied having visited the temple and some said their age was given wrongly.

Speaking at Sannidhanam on Sunday, Sasikumara Varma criticised the LDF government's list of 51 women produced before the Supreme Court. "The government shot itself in the foot with it," he said.

Sabarimala closed

The Sabarimala shrine was closed after pujas for the Month of Makaram were completed on Sunday. The Pandalam Palace representative offered prayers at the shrine, marking the end of the monthly pujas. The shrine will be open in mid-February on the first of Malayalam month Kumbham.

The Sabarimala was opened at 5am Sunday. As per the custom, only the palace representative offered prayers Sunday. The temple was closed as the representative offered his prayers and descended the 18 steps.

He then joined the Thiruvabharanam procession in Pamba, which will reach Aranmula Temple on Tuesday.

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