RIGHT OF ADMISSION RESERVED
Some of the places of worship in the country where women have faced discrimination
HAJI ALI DARGAH Mumbai
Located along the Mumbai coast, the tomb of 15th century Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari allowwed women into the sanctum sanctorum only in November 2016 following the Supreme Court’s intervention
LORD AYYAPPA TEMPLE Sabarimala, Kerala
The Sabarimala temple had been stuck in a legal to and fro for refusing entry to girls/ women of ‘menstruating age’ (10-50 age group). On Sept. 28, the SC ruled that women must be allowed in
PATBAUSI SATRA Barpeta, Assam
Menstruating women are not welcome here. In 2010, then governor J.B. Patnaik prevailed upon the temple’s spiritual head and took 20 women inside. Temple authorities now claim the bar on entry of women was dropped as long ago as 1991
LORD KARTIKEYA TEMPLE Pehowa, Haryana
The temple worships the
brahmachari form of Lord Kartikeya. Women are advised to stay away on the basis of a belief that the deity curses women who come visiting
RANAKPUR TEMPLE Rajasthan
The 15th century Jain temple has a notice outside that appeals to women to not enter the premises while they are menstruating. The temple management connects menstruation with violation of the temple’s sanctity
NIZAMUDDIN DARGAH Delhi
The 14th century shrine of Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya has a set of dos and don’ts for women. They can enter the dargah, but cannot go beyond the wall or offer petals at the marble grave. Hijras, however, get all the privileges that men enjoy
JAIN TEMPLES Guna, Madhya Pradesh
While women are allowed to enter, there are restrictions on what they can wear
SREE PADMANABHASWAMY TEMPLE Thiruvananthapuram
Women are allowed in if they are ‘appropriately’ attired. In November 2016, the temple management allowed women wearing churidar-kurta to enter, but continued with the ban on three-fourths, sleeveless tops and leggings. Men can enter only if they are wearing mundu
JAMA MASJID Delhi
Women are not allowed inside after sunset
TRIMBAKESHWAR TEMPLE Nashik
A favourable Bombay High Court order allowed women entry into the sanctum sanctorum in April 2016, despite resistance from the temple management and locals
MAHALAKSHMI TEMPLE Kolhapur, Maharashtra
Women were barred until April 2016 when a group of women entered the sanctum sanctorum after a Bombay HC order