The Shani Shingnapur temple in Maharashtra is bracing for a showdown between women activists and villagers. While the former is planning to storm the inner sanctum, the latter say they will ensure that the age-old tradition disallowing women from the inner sanctum is not violated.
Led by Trupti Desai of the Bhumata Rangranai Brigade, more than 1,000 women have proclaimed their intent to enter the prohibited area on Republic Day. The administration has stepped-up the security and villagers are planning to form a cordon.
Desai has also sought permission collector's permission to go by helicopter.
"Women want equality, which was given in the Constitution of India on January 26. Hence we want to protest on this day," Desai said, as the agitation over certain restrictions on women at popular shrines such as Haji Ali in Mumbai and Sabrimala temple in Kerala reached Shani Shingnapur, about 300 kms from Mumbai.
The temple trust and most villagers have strongly opposed the plan, fearing the move might "anger" the Shani Dev. To foil the attempt, villagers have announced that they would form a human chain around the temple to "protect" the god from "being impure".
"One woman mistakenly went to the chauthara (platform) and took darshan. After this, the management washed the area as it had become 'impure' and insulted motherhood. In December 2015, four of us (women) tried to storm through the barricades, but were pushed back," Desai said.
In November 2015, a woman offered prayers at the popular shrine in 'breach' of the age-old practice of prohibiting entry of women, prompting the temple committee to suspend seven security men and the villagers to perform purification rituals.
"As I have been reading news regarding the issue, I thought it is important to maintain the law and order situation and to prevail the sanctity of the temple. I have issued a notice to the organisation not to go to the temple trust," Joint Charity Commissioner of Pune region Shivkumar Dige stated in the order.
(With additional information from PTI)
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