Gender rights activist offers prayers at Shiva temple

Gender rights activist Trupti Desai, who is spearheading a campaign seeking to break the age-old tradition banning entry of women in inner sanctum sanctorum of temples, yesterday visited the famous Lord Shiva temple at Trimbakeshwar in Nashik without making a bid to enter the core area.

Trupti Desai

Desai, who heads Bhumata Brigade, made an unannounced visit to the famous temple, nearly 30 kms from Nashik. The activist was in Niphad taluka here to attend a programme.

Desai and two of her colleagues visited Trimbakeshwar temple yesterday and took ‘darshan' of the deity from outside the ‘garbhagriha' (sanctum sanctorum where entry of women is banned) and were later escorted out safely by police, a Trimbakeshwar Police Station official said.

The visit was "peaceful". Though some locals objected to entry of Desai into the temple, no disruption was reported. Desai later left for Mumbai, the officer said.

An official of Trimbakeshwar Devasthan Trust said no meeting was held between the Bhumata Brigade chief and temple trust yesterday. Desai had yesterday said in Niphad that Bhumata Brigade activists will henceforth attempt entering the ‘garbhagrih' without creating any law and order situation and it will be unannounced.