A fake alarm that a woman had entered the shrine disguised as a man, just a few hours before close of this pooja season, caused a minor flutter at Sabarimala.
Hundreds of devotees formed a human chain at the temple sannidhanam after this fake alarm. However, it was soon confirmed that this news was false and that no such incident had occurred. Police had to step in and pacify devotees, according to reports.
The temple will close at 10 pm on Monday.
Earlier in the morning, Bindu, a Dalit activist, who was proceeding to Pamba at the foothills of Sabarimala temple from where devotees undertake an arduous 5 km trek to the shrine, was given police protection at her request, officials said.
However, when the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation bus she was travelling on with police personnel was about to reach Pamba, a group of BJP workers and those opposing the entry of girls and women aged between 10 and 50 years into the temple, blocked the road and forced her to alight.
She was then escorted to safety in a police jeep, officials said.