Will use guerilla tactics: Activists

After their unsuccessful bid to climb the chauthara (sanctum) of Shani Shingnapur temple in Ahmednagar on Saturday, the Bhumata Brigade’s activists have warned that they would use guerilla tactics to enter the Trimbakeshwar temple’s sanctum. The Bhumata Brigade is demanding that female devotees be allowed to take darshan from the sanctum of temples that allow only men.

This, the Bhumata claims, is against religion and the Constitution of India, which gives equal rights to women. However sadhus, scholars and priests state that the ancient traditions of disallowing women entry should be honoured.

Earlier Bhumata had stated that its activists would take darshan of Trimbakeshwar temple on Saturday due to which its security was tightened. However, the group was holding a women’s awareness programme in Ahmednagar on that day.

“After completing the programme, we four to five women left for Shani Shingnapur and took darshan. By that time, the temple authorities and police had recognised us. After taking darshan we tried to climb the platform but were detained,” Bhumata president Trupti Desai told The Asian Age. Ms Desai has now stated that they would not announce their arrival as they did earlier. “Now we’ll use guerilla tactics and enter Trimbakeshwar temple,” she stated. In Trimbakeshwar, the entire town appears united in its opposition to Bhumata’s demand.