Abode of ‘celibate’ Sage Agasthya is now favourite of women trekkers

Kerala By K A Shaji January 2, 2023 Read the article

The Agasthyarkoodam trekking season in the southernmost forests of Kerala will begin on 16 January this year.

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It was out of bounds for women till 2019, when the Kerala High Court lifted the ban terming it discriminatory and against the spirit of gender justice.

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Sage Agasthya is considered a celibate. That’s the reason why Kani tribals who live in and around Agasthyarkoodam object to women’s entry.

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Women’s collectives Pennoruma, headed by M Sulfath, and Anweshi, led by former Naxalite K Ajitha, joined hands with WINGS in the court battle.

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While a similar ban exists in Sabarimala, the Kani tribals decided to respect the court order.

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Over 3,500 women undertook the arduous trek in 2019. This year, the Forest Department expects at least 30,000 trekkers to apply — a third of them women.

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The High Court judge’s order prevents trekkers, irrespective of gender, from entering the immediate vicinity of the forest temple of Agasthya.

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Judge Anu Sivaraman clarified that the temple would continue to be under the exclusive control of the Kani tribals.

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The forest department has erected barricades around the temple to facilitate undisturbed puja by Kani community members during auspicious occasions.

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Forest officials said only a limited number of passes would be issued — on a first come, first served basis — given the fragile ecology of the mountain.

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In the bookings, there is no separate quota for women.

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