Gender bias: Trimbakeshwar temple in spotlight

Amid campaigns against ban on women from entering the 'chauthara' of the  Shani Shingnapur shrine and certain restrictions for them at the Haji Ali dargah in Mumbai, famous Trimbakeshwar temple in Maharashtra has also come into spotlight for bar on female devotees offering prayers in the inner sanctum.

The ancient temple, located 30 km from Nashik, is a major Lord Shiva shrine of the country, which has one of the 12 'jyotirlingas', drawing devotees from far and wide.

Kailas Ghule, a member of the Trimbakeshwar Temple Trust said the bar on the entry of women into the 'Garbhagriha' – sanctum sanctorum- is an age-old tradition and not something enforced in recent times. Women, however, can have 'darshan' from outside the core area. He said men too are not allowed into the core worship area for an hour daily from 6 to 7 am.