They said this was their life’s mission which had been realised.

Four transgender pilgrims, who were earlier stopped from going to the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala, offered prayers at the hill shrine on December 18 amid heavy police presence.

Ananya, Trupti, Renjumol and Avanthika, clad in black sarees and carrying the customary “Irrumudikettu” (sacred offerings to the deity), were escorted by police from Nilackal to Pamba and in the trek to the shrine.

The four said they were extremely happy to have got the opportunity to offer prayers at the temple and that this was their life’s mission which had been realised. They met DGP A. Hemachandran, a member of the Kerala High Court-appointed supervisory panel, and Inspecto-General of Police Manoj Abraham on December 17.

The police earlier turned them away, saying that they had to get some legal clarity on the issue.