Women activists to march against ban from entering Trimbakeshwar temple

Women activists have decided to march to the Trimbakeshwar temple in Nashik on Monday even as the temple trustees have refused to allow women to enter its inner sanctum.

The march to the temple is being organised by the Bhumata brigade, which is led by activist Trupti Desai. The activist has demanded that women must be allowed inside the temple on Shivratri.

Asserting that the women brigade would enter the temple of Monday, Trupti Desai told CNN-IBN, "We will be able to enter the temple today. What police did last time is a violation of Constitution and they will not do that again."

She further said, "There is no case in any court either, so they cannot use that excuse. So I request the Chief Minister that they should deploy more police and allow us the entry. I would like to say to Hindutva groups that I am Hindu too. This is not a fight of religion or of god, this is a fight for women's rights."

Meanwhile, the temple trust has maintained that the ban of entry of women is based on tradition, claiming that no objection has ever been raised on the same.

Desai had also met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in January over entry of women in Shani Shinganapur and Trimbakeshwar temples.

The ancient Trimbakeshwar temple, located 30 km from Nashik, is a major Lord Shiva shrine of the country, which has one of the 12 'jyotirlingas', drawing devotees from far and wide.