Embracing Equality: Breaking 400 Yr Old Tradition, Women Allowed To Enter Shani Shingnapur Temple

Image Courtesy: andina

Thanks to the historic ruling by the Bombay High Court, Maharashtra’s Shani Shingnapur temple authority decided to do away its 400-year-old discriminatory tradition, allowing women devotees to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the temple to offer prayers. This decision came on Friday, on the auspicious occasion of “Gudi Padwa” i.e New Year for people across Maharashtra.

The right to pray The movement for the right to pray has finally been met with success, among women this is seen as a victory for the all women, especially the activists of Bhoomata Brigade who were agitating for their rights to enter the temple over the last few months. The decision made by the temple trust to allow women in the inner sanctum of the temple came after the Bombay High Court ordered on April 1 to allow women in temples and exercise their fundamental right.

Maharashtra supports equality of women Maharashtra government also made its stand clear to do away with this discriminatory practice that endorses inequality between men and women. The debate over the issue escalated after a woman, tried to enter and offer prayers at the Shani Shingnapur temple last year and was prohibited from entering. Trupti Desai, the leader of Bhoomata Brigade rejoices this decision and she hopes that the trustees at the Trimbakeshwar and Mahalaxmi temples in Nashik and Kolhapur too would take a similar decision and end this discrimination against women. The Logical Indian welcomes the decision taken by the Bombay High Court and also thanks the Maharashtra government for backing this decision. We congratulate all who were part of the movement to make this happen. It is a proud moment for the judiciary, country, and women in making this happen.