Women defy centuries-old ban by visiting Hindu temple
- Olivia Esparza
- Oct 13, 2019
- 3 min read
Although India's Supreme Court lifted the ban in September, protesters tried to block women from entering the temple
An Indian government that had oppressed allowing women to enter a Hindu temple changed its position in September, saying that women had the right to pray in the temple.
For months, the Sabarimala Temple, located in Kerala, India, has been the site of violent protests and riots over whether women of childbearing age — defined as women between the ages of 10 and 50 — could enter the temple.
According to The New York Times, “The drama has captivated India, encapsulating bigger issues of religious extremism, women’s rights and rule of law.”
Supporters of the ban say that allowing women inside the temple would disturb the temple’s celibate god, Lord Ayyappa.
Time Magazine reports, “Many Hindus believe that the energy or chaitanya of a woman’s body is polluted during menstruation. Most temples allow women to enter as long as they are not on their period, but the Sabarimala temple is one of the few banning women of childbearing age altogether.”
In 1991, Kerala’s high court made the tradition into a law. In September, however, the country’s Supreme Court removed the ban, saying it was unconstitutional.
Senior advocate, Rakesh Dwivedi, in the article, “Support entry of women: Devaswom Temple board’s U-turn on Sabarimala in Supreme Court,” says, “Equality is the dominant theme under the constitution and the practice violates equality. Spirit of the judgement is equal treatment to a man and woman. Women can’t be excluded on the basis of biological attributes.”
The New York Times reports, “Kerala’s state entities embraced the verdict, with the Communist Party of India, which governs Kerala, offering support to the few dozen women who tried to reach the temple. Armed with batons and helmets, police officers formed protective rings around them as they climbed a steep, three-mile trail leading to the temple.”
No one managed to go inside the temple until Jan. 2 according to Time Magazine. 40 year-old law professor Bindu and 39 year-old government supplies officer Kanakadurga became the first women to enter the temple.
In a video created by Time Magazine, Bindu and Kanakadurga said, “once inside the temple, none of the pilgrims seemed to care. This just shows that only people with some hidden agenda are against this. None of the others had any problem with women entering the temple.”
After male protesters in Kerala found out Bindu and Kanakadurga entered the temple, protesters began rioting.
According to Time Magazine, “protesters damaged buses, burned effigies, threw stones and crude bombs in the street, and have chased and abused women.”
India Today reported “over 5,700 people have been arrested in Sabarimala violence so far.”
In response to the protests, millions of women have formed a chain to support gender equality, according to USA Today. Thousands of people posted pictures of women hand-in-hand using the hashtag #WomenWall
Loyola Marymount University junior, Gurleen Khosa, says, "The women's wall is really empowering and amazing to see. We're in a time now where women are uniting and demanding for equality and I love that."
Khosa's family is from India. She says she thinks what Bindu and Kanakadurga accomplished is admirable. Khosa says if she was in their shoes, she isn't sure if she'd enter the temple because of the protestors surrounding the temple.
Similar to the United States, the fight for women’s equality exists on several fronts, Time Magazine reports. Last year, the #MeToo movement came to India. Indian women in media, entertainment, business, and academics named their offenders and demanded safer workplaces, according to Focus Magazine.
The issue of allowing women in the temple has not disappeared. According to the BBC, “The issue has grown increasingly contentious ahead of India's general election, which is scheduled for April and May.”
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