Indian temple opens inner sanctum to women

Supporters of Shani Shingnapur gathered at temple

Trustees of the Shani Shingnapur temple in Ahmednagar decided on Friday to lift the centuries-old ban on women entering the popular temple.
Women would neither be encouraged nor stopped from entering the temple, a spokesperson for the trust said on Friday. Hours earlier, scores of men forced their way into the inner sanctum of the temple, defying a ban imposed by the trustees on any visitors - male or female - from entering it.
The Bombay high court had on March 30 directed the Maharashtra government to ensure that all persons are allowed to enter places of worship, especially the Shani Shingnapur temple, located about 250 km north-east of here in Ahmednagar district. The court reminded the government that under the Maharashtra Hindu Place of Worship (entry authorisation) Act, 1956, if any one prevents a person from entering a temple, he or she faces a six-month imprisonment.
But even after the court order, a group of women activists were prevented by local people from approaching the temple. The police also detained the activists, instead of taking action against the temple officials.
The temple trust then came out with a new ban, preventing even men from approaching the inner sanctum. On Friday morning, however, scores of men forced their way into the sanctum as the officials looked on helplessly. Friday was Gudi Padwa, the new year for Hindus in Maharashtra and a few other states. Thousands of devotees lined up outside the Shani Shingnapur temple from early morning.
Hours later, the trustees abruptly decided to reverse the age-old ban on women entering the temple and announced that they would neither encourage nor stop them from doing so. A spokesperson for the temple said women devotees would be allowed even on the platform from where they could observe the rituals.
He said the dozen-odd trustees decided to give up the old tradition and respect the court order. The Shani Shingnapur temple is an open one and attracts millions of male devotees every year.
A relieved Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis welcomed the decision, as did women activists.
Earlier in the week, Fadnavis had said at a public rally that Hinduism had no place for discrimination and had lent his support to the court order. - news@khaleejtimes.com