Trimbakeshwar revokes ban on men’s entry

The Trimbakeshwar Temple authorities have gone back on their April 3 resolution, wherein they had decided to ban the entry of men too in the core worship area at the famous Lord Shiva shrine.

A meeting of the Trimbakeshwar Devasthan Trust held on Sunday cancelled its earlier resolution restricting the entry of men in the ‘garbhgriha’ (sanctum sanctorum), Nivrutti Nagare, a trustee and Chief Officer of Trimbakeshwar Municipal Council said.

The Trust revoked its decision of April 3 owing to pressure from locals, Nagare, who presided over the meeting of the trustees said. The meeting did not decide anything on the centuries’ old ban on women’s entry in the core area, he said.

However, the temple trustees were unanimous about seeking further guidance from the Bombay high court in the matter, even after its recent ruling that it is the fundamental right of women to visit places of worship.

The court had also directed the Maharashtra government to take pro-active steps for ensuring compliance with the law for the prevention of discrimination against women vis-a-vis their entry to places of worship.