31-Year-Old Woman to Defy Ban and Enter Sabarimala Temple

Mumbai:Trupti Desai, the firebrand leader who made headlines by entering Shani Shingnapur temple defying a ban, said she would defy the ban on women and enter the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala. Desai, founder and president of the Bhumata Brigade, an activist group in Pune, is 31.

Women in the age group of 10 to 50 are not allowed entry into the Sabarimala temple on the contention that menstruating women can be a cause for impurity. Her move is likely to create disturbances in Kerala.

Trupti Desai said she would observe the customary 41-day ‘ mandala vrutham’ ( abstinence and penance) before entering the temple.

She plans to visit Kerala next month and organise protests by women’s organisations.

A petition challenging the ban on the entry of women at Sabarimala is under the consideration of the Supreme Court.