Heavy police security will be in place at Trimbakeshwar town on the day of Mahashivratri, Monday, given the Bhumata Brigade’s announcement of planning to enter the Temple garbhgruh (sanctum sanctorum) and the call of Hindu organisations to oppose the move.
About 300 women activists from Pune, Nashik and other places will drive to Trimbakeshwar, where they will attempt to enter the garbhgruh.
Speaking to The Asian Age, RBB president Trupti Desai said that 100 women will board vehicles at 8.30 am from Nehru stadium gate, Swargate in Pune on Monday. Similarly, 100 women from Mumbai, Dhule, Ahmednagar and 100 women from Nashik will converge in Nashik and move towards Trimbakeshwar, she said.
Trimbakeshwar Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlings in India and is heavily crowded with devotees on Mahashivratri. Trimbakeshwar station police inspector (PI) Devidas Patil said there is always bandobast during Mahashivratri.
“We are concerned only with the bandobast and maintaining law and order. The issue of permission to enter the garbhgruh is of the Shri Trimbakeshwar Devasthan Trust,” Mr Patil said.
Earlier, replying to a letter by RBB, the STDT has decided not to allow any women in the garbhgruh. The trust letter also cautioned the RBB from taking the law into its hands and reiterated that it could not allow women, considering traditions.
STDT trustee Lalita Shinde, who is also a former municipal president of Trimbakeshwar, said that personally she had to fight it out in the Supreme Court to become the first woman trustee of the temple since its inception.
“The temple’s traditions should be honoured,” she stated.
Hindu Janjagran Samiti (HJS) has already called upon all to oppose RBB activists’ entry into the garbhgruh.
A press release said that, “The timing of the agitation on this day would create serious law and order problem. The agitators should not be allowed to enter the district,” the release demanded.
