Two women defy centuries-old ban by entering prominent Indian temple

Bonnie Christian2 January 2019

Two women have defied a centuries old ban on entering a Hindu temple in the southern India state of Kerala.

The women, said to be in their 40s, entered the premises of the Sabarimala hill temple defying local tradition that bars women of menstruating age, which is defined as between the ages of 10 and 50.

In September, India's Supreme Court had ruled that the ban be lifted but Hindu devotees at the temple had blocked attempts by women to go inside.

On Tuesday, five million women from around the state formed a 385 mile human chain across all national highways “in support of gender equality”.

More than five million women formed a human chain in support of gender equality in India.
AFP/Getty Images

Organisers had predicted a turnout of about three million.

Officials said the short demonstration was to combat inequality and counter the efforts of right-wing groups that support the ban on women.

After the women entered the temple on Wednesday, local news channels reported the chief priest conducted “purification” rituals.

Conservative Hindu groups said they believe women of menstruating age would defile the temple's inner shrine.

A video from a local police official posted online on Wednesday showed two women inside the temple with their heads covered.

The state government defended its decision to protect the women as they went into the temple, saying it was a matter of civil rights.

"I had earlier made it clear that the government will provide protection if any women come forward to enter the temple," said Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala's chief minister, according to local TV.

Two women have entered a prominent Indian temple on Wednesday, it comes after five million women this week formed a human chain in support of gender equality.
AFP/Getty Images

In Kerala, the main political opposition warned of protests.

"This is treachery...The government will have to pay the price for the violation of the custom," K. Sudhakaran, vice-president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, said in a statement.

Congress is the main opposition party in the state, which is run by a coalition of left-wing parties.

Vijayan said in a televised news conference that the two women, who had previously tried but failed to enter the temple because their way was blocked by devotees, faced no obstruction on Wednesday.

It was not immediately clear how the women on this occasion managed to avoid devotees guarding the temple.

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