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Women's entry to Shani temple: Let them pray at home first, says MP minister

Updated on: 30 January,2016 11:46 AM IST |
Agencies |

In a remark that has potential to stir a fresh controversy over women's entry at Maharashtra's Shani Temple, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Babu Lal Gaur said 'they (women) should first worship at home'

Bhopal: In a remark that has potential to stir a fresh controversy over women’s entry at Maharashtra’s Shani Temple, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Babu Lal Gaur yesterday said ‘they (women) should first worship at home’.

Trupti Desai (in pink) headed the protest by women, demanding the right to enter the Shani Shignapur temple, in Ahmadnagar on Tuesday. Pic/PTI

"Leave it, women can worship at home," he said after his response was sought on the ongoing debate whether women should be allowed inside the temple or not.

Around 400 women in Shani Shingnapur attempted to break decades old tradition, prohibiting women from entering the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, an issue that brought a group of activists at loggerheads with locals.

Shani Shingnapur, a village located about 330 kilometers northeast of Mumbai, is famous for the Shani temple. The temple drew attention after a young woman defied common practice and performed ‘abhishek’ on November 27, 2015.

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