Trimbakeshwar allows entry of women with rider, activists fume

Amid the campaign for gender equality, the Trimbakeshwar Devasthan Trust in Maharashtra has decided to allow women in the famous Lord Shiva temple’s sanctum sanctorum for an hour everyday, but with a rider that they must wear wet cotton or silk clothes while offering prayers in the core area.

However, the women activists have refused to abide by the condition and have lodged a police complaint against the trust members and local people for purposely obstructing their entry to the temple.

The trust took the decision at a meeting on Wednesday to allow women into the temple’s ‘garbha griha’ sanctum sanctorum from Thursday from 6 to 7 am and with the conditions attached to it, Lalita Shinde, one of the temple trustees, said.

The decision was taken following an agitation by Pune-based Swarajya Sanghatana, headed by Vanita Gutte. However, Gutte and her aides refused to enter the core area of the temple wearing wet clothes on Thursday morning.

However, during that time several local priests wearing ‘sovala’ (silk clothing) entered the sanctum sanctorum to perform the puja. An argument ensued between the temple authorities and the activists and the time limit of 6-7 am got over, Shinde said.

Meanwhile, based on a complaint by Gutte that they were being obstructed from entering the temple, the police have registered offences against nearly 250 people, including members of the temple trust, some priests and temple workers, Trimbakeshwar police station in-charge Haribhau Kolhe said today. “We will have to check the footage of 45 CCTV cameras, other things to identify persons, against whom Swarajya Sanghatana chief Vanita Gutte has lodged complaint,” he said. Police said Gutte and other women activists left the town on Thursday.