Pathanamthitta (Kerala) [India], Jan 5 (NT): Female devotees will now have to hand over their age proof while visiting Kerala's Sabarimala Temple, where entry of women aged between 12 and 50 is banned.

The temple authorities' guidelines issued after several incidents appeared over banned age group of women being detained to enter the temple.

Though it is not compulsory and full-fledged authentication which will not be held, but those found doubtful will have to show their age proof which could be any ID card approved by the government, as per to media reports.

Women of menstruating age group are forbidden from entering the shrine of Lord Ayyappa, but the rule was being despoiled during the three-month annual pilgrimage, which grabbed the attention of several worshippers to the temple.

Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Annie Raja criticized the temple authorities, saying that the guidelines were a violation of the rights of women to worship.

"It is once again denying the rights of women to worship any God. Women were actually demanding entry into the Sabrimala Temple, but it is unfortunate that the temple authorities deny and are now demanding age proof," Raja told an interview taken by ANI.

"God does not discriminate between man and woman but these custodians of god are denying the women their rights to worship," she  further said. (NT)