A day after they were allegedly manhandled while trying to enter into the sanctum sanctorum of the famous Trimbakeshwar temple in "dress code", the four women activists today took 'darshan' of the deity amid police protection.
Temples across Maharashtra are increasingly adopting dress codes for visitors, urging devotees to wear modest and traditional attire. While temple trusts argue that these codes maintain sanctity, visitors have mixed reactions. The trend, which started with the Shree Siddhivinayak Ganpati Temple in Mumbai, has spread to other temples, including those in Pune, Ratnagiri, and Ahilyanagar. The move has been welcomed by some, who believe it promotes respect and decorum within religious spaces. However, others argue that it is unnecessary and restrictive. Right-wing organizations are advocating for similar dress codes across all temples in Maharashtra, including prominent state-run temples like the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple.
'If we do not enter the temple, then history won't be made and all wrong rituals will get continue to be followed.' 'If they resort to violence against women and abuse them, how can they be Ayyappa Swamy's bhakts?'
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday urged the administration in Ahmednagar district to initiate dialogue with the women activists, who were detained and later released by the police for marching towards the Shani Shingnapur temple.
Desai, along with three of her colleagues took darshan of the 'shivlinga' in the 'garbha gruha' around 6 am and left after nearly 15 minutes.
Fadnavis, who on Tuesday favoured a dialogue on the issue in the wake of a tense showdown, did not make any comment on the set of demands before leaving the venue.
The Shankaracharya of Dwaraka-Sharda Peeth Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati said that women's entry in temples would result in increase of rape incidents.
Under the Maharashtra Hindu Place of Worship (Entry Authorisation) Act, if any temple or person prohibits any person from entering a temple then he or she faces a six-month imprisonment.
Several activists belonging to Muslim women groups held placards demanding entry for females into the sanctum sanctorum of the historic dargah, which receives hundreds of devotees everyday.
'We will talk to Muslim, Christian organisations and form a broad alliance so that every temple, church and mosque will have freedom to manage their affairs and not to be intervened upon.'
Despite the trust's orders that men as well as women will not be allowed to enter the Shani Shingnapur temple here, around 100 men were on Friday seen storming into the inner sanctum of the holy place.
'As I was getting out of my car at Haji Ali some activists charged towards me with lathis and knives.'
In a boost to gender equality campaign, the Bombay high court on Wednesday observed that if men are allowed in a place of worship then women should also be permitted as no law prevents them from doing so.
Trupti Desai's fight earned women the right to enter the inner sanctums of the Shani Shingnapur Temple, the Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple and the Haji Ali Dargah. Her next target is Sabarimala in Kerala. Aditi Phadnis reports.
Restriction on entry of women in any temple is "unfair" and managements in the temples doing so should change their mentality, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh said on Sunday, against the backdrop of some cases highlighted through recent agitations in Maharashtra.
From reaching out to the Jat community and requesting them to not harm the country's assets to trying to mediate on behalf of the women protesting against Shani Shingnapur temple authorities, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has made his presence felt. Nikita Puri examines the rise of the New Age guru.
Desai said she would participate on the condition that a female voice-over will be roped in for the series.
'I want to know, how can any God become impure if woman enters the temple?'
"Today, I entered Haji Ali Dargah. I went till the point where women were allowed to go and offered prayers. The police were helpful this time. This is a fight for gender equality," Desai said after offering prayers.
Though some Hindutva groups have said they will prevent the women's group from entering the temple.
A local AIMIM leader said they would not allow Desai to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the renowned Dargah and threatened to smear her face with black ink if she does so.
According to the spiritual guru, all men and women could have darshan of the Shani deity from a distance of three feet without any gender discrimination.
The Lord Ayyappa shrine will re-open for the two-month-long Madala-Makkarvilakku puja on Saturday.
As per tradition, only men were allowed entry daily between 6-7 am into the area where the main 'linga' is placed, that too by putting on a specific gear called the sovala (silk clothing).
'We will soon come back to Kerala to visit Sabarimala but we will not declare it in advance and come'
Their next plan is to launch a campaign to ensure only women priests change the clothes of goddess idols.
Bhumata Brigade chief Trupti Desai on Thursday took her movement for gender equality to the famous Haji Ali dargah in Mumbai but stopped short of going into the shrine.
The woman climbed the security barricade to the 'chauthara' (platform) where the idol is installed and offered prayers on Saturday, before disappearing in the crowd.
Desai requested the Dargah's trust to not move the Supreme Court against the HC's judgment.
'I am a Hindu and I love Hindu religion. Hindu religion gives high status and respect to women.' 'And if there are some reforms in Hindu religion, then there is nothing wrong in it.' 'I am not trying to hurt Hindu sentiments.'
Ahmednagar police stopped the activists of 'Ranaragini Bhoomata Brigade' protesting against the alleged gender bias by the temple authorities, led by Trupti Desai, at Supa, about 70 km from the temple premises, foiling their bid to offer worship at the sacred platform.
Temple priest performed a 'purification' ritual for an hour before the doors were opened again.
Could the Haji Ali dargah verdict be the beginning of the end of all social discrimination -- against women, against Dalits, the low castes and the caste-less, asks Durba Dhyani.
On Friday, the Bombay high court reversing the ban imposed on women entering the inner sanctum of the Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai said, "The ban is contrary to articles 14, 15, 19 and 25 of the Constitution of India. Women should be permitted to enter the dargah on par with men." The news brought much cheer and joy to petitioner Zakia Soman who is also the founder of the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan. Zakia spoke to Rediff.com's Syed Firdaus Ashraf on what made this verdict historic and how it will bring about a change in the future.
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