Shani Shingnapur temple trust allows women devotees inside inner sanctum

New Delhi: In what can be a historic decision, the Shani Shingnapur temple trust on Friday allowed women devotees to enter the inner sanctum and offer prayers. The temple, situated in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district, has traditionally barred the entry of women inside the sanctum. "Shani Shingnapur trust has decided, temple’s sanctum will be open for all, including women," said  Nanasaheb Bankar, trustee of Shani Shingnapur temple. Earlier today, despite the trust's orders that men as well as women will not be allowed to enter the Shani Shingnapur temple, around 100 men were on Friday seen storming into the inner sanctum of the holy place. On the festive occasion of Gudi Padwa, with hundreds of devotees in line to worship, a mob of men arrived outside the temple as they barged aside the security to enter the inner sanctum of the temple and pray at the holy site. The temple had reversed an ancient rule and declared that neither men nor women would be allowed into the area that has an idol placed on a platform. Last week Bombay High Court has said that if men are allowed in a place of worship then women should also be permitted as no law prevents them from doing so. "There is no law that prevents entry of women in any place. If you allow men then you should allow women also. If a male can go and pray before the deity then why not women? It is the state government's duty to protect the rights of women," the court had said. The debate over the issue in Maharashtra escalated after a woman last year tried to enter and offer prayers at the Shani Shingnapur temple, in 'breach' of the 400-year old practice of prohibiting entry of women. This had prompted the temple committee to suspend seven security men and the villagers to form purification rituals. Subsequently, the Bhumata brigade led by Trupti Desai had on January 26 launched a high-voltage campaign to breach the ban at the temple and vowed to carry on with its movement for gender justice. Keeping up the campaign against gender bias at places of worship, around 150 women under the banner of Bhumata Brigade had earlier this month left for the famous Trimbakeshwar temple in Nashik district seeking to break the bar on female devotees at the inner sanctum of the Lord Shiva shrine. Their attempts were, however, foiled by the police. (With input from agencies)