Thiruvananthapuram: The churidar-clad women can now enter the Padmanabha Swamy temple, a victory for women activists who have been demanding permission for it. An overwhelming number of women had supported the demand during a public hearing held recently. Temple executive officer K.N. Satheesh has issued an order in this regard following the intervention by the High Court. Till now, traditional mundu had to be worn by both men and women in the temple.
Senior Thanthri (priest) Nedumpally Tharananalloor N.P. Parameshwaran Nampoothiri and administrative committee chairman K. Haripal had appealed to the executive officer to maintain status quo on the dress code. Advocate Riya Raji of Thiruvananthapuram had first approached the temple administrative committee with a demand to allow churidar in the temple. However, with no action being taken, she moved the High Court which directed the executive officer to issue a favourable directive in a month’s time.
Female devotees enter the Padmanabha Swamy temple in dhoti wrap on Tuesday. (Photo: DC)
The court had heard the versions of a few religious organisations. During an open hearing, around 350 women demanded that churidar be allowed here. The Guruvayoor temple also had in 2007 removed a ban on churidar on its premises. Dress code changes for devotees are not new in Padmanabhaswamy temple. Earlier, Travancore Maharaja Sri Moolam Thirunal had ended a precedence wherein women had to remain topless during Arattu festival here.
