Hindu outfits stop churidar-clad women from entering Sri Padmanabha temple

After the raucous controversy over women's entry into Sabarimala Sri Dharma Sasta Temple, Hindu right wing organisations kicked up another regressive row by stopping women clad in Churidar from entering the famous Sri Padmanabha Swami Temple in Kerala capital on Wednesday. A group of Hindu activists prevented women in Churidar from entering the temple, triggering tension in the pilgrim spot for over two hours as they staged a protest in front of the entrance of the temple. 

The Hindu organisations including the Hindu Aikya Vedi, a Sangh Parivar organisations, called off protest after District Judge, who is also the chairman of the temple committee, promised to maintain status quo. But they returned to agitation mode after Executive Officer of the temple refused to withdraw the order allowing churidar inside the temple. It also exposed the rift between the officer and the temple authorities. The temple committee had decided to keep the order of the Executive Officer of the temple allowing churidar-clad women to enter the temple in abeyance following the intervention of the judge.  

The officer’s order had irked the temple administrative committee and some Hindu outfits felt that it went against the ‘tradition and rituals’ in the temple. As per the custom, churidar, leggings and jeans are not allowed inside the temple. The devotees in churidar should wear a ‘mundu’ above it before entering the temple. 

Even though the District Judge proposed to maintain status quo, the Executive Officer stuck to his guns and stated that he will not cancel his order. following this the Hindu organisations regrouped and once again started protests in all the four entry points to the temple. 

Responding to the controversy, Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran said that temples should undergo changes according to changing times. 

• Churidar
• Hindu
• Sri Padmanabha Temple