India is the only country in the world where people of different castes and religions live together in harmony. Temples, mosques, churches, and gurudwaras are easily found in one place in every state and district of the country. Due to this, the religious places here are known for faith as well as for tourism. Everyone reaches to visit these religious places. But do you know that there are some religious places in the country where the entry of women is prohibited? You will find it strange to know, but it is true. There are many such religious places in the country where there is controversy over the entry of women. However, in many cases, court hearings are also going on. Today we are going to tell you about such religious places where even today the entry of women is banned.
Shani Shingnapur Temple
Shani Shingnapur Temple is a famous temple located in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. The temple is famous for Lord Shani, who is believed to reside here in a black stone even today. This temple attracts a large number of devotees every year. But for your information, let us tell you that women were not allowed to enter the Shani temple for more than 400 years. Only male devotees could have the darshan of Shani Maharaj in this temple. Which was also strongly opposed by women. And on 8 April 2016, after protesting against this tradition, the entry of women into this temple has been allowed.
Sabarimala Temple
Sabarimala Temple, located in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, is one of the most famous and sacred temples in South India. Situated on the Sahyadri range, this temple is dedicated to the Hindu deity of celibacy, Ayyappan. It is said that devotees have to fast for 41 days to visit this temple. In such a situation, women are unable to complete this fast due to periods, so women are not allowed to enter the premises of this temple. For your information, let us tell you that in the last few years, protests have also been seen many times regarding the entry of women into the temple. Although the Supreme Court has allowed women to enter, the local people still oppose it.
Padmanabhaswamy Temple
Padmanabhaswamy is a famous temple of Lord Vishnu in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. This historical temple, included in the major Vaishnava temples, is one of the many tourist places in Thiruvananthapuram. Padmanabha Swamy Temple is an important place for Vishnu devotees. It is believed that the idol of Lord Vishnu was first obtained from this place. After this, this temple has been constructed in the same place. Women are not allowed to enter this temple.
Pir Haji Ali Dargah
Pir Haji Ali Dargah, located in Mumbai, the financial capital of India, is a very sacred religious place for the people of the Muslim community. Lakhs of devotees visit this dargah every month to offer chadar on Haji Ali's grave. But, for your information, let us tell you that lakhs of devotees come every month, but even today women are not allowed to enter this dargah. This ban was lifted for some time around the year 2011-12 but, later it was banned again.
Kartikeya Temple
The Bramha Temple in Pushkar city of Rajasthan is dedicated to Lord Bramha. The Kartikeya temple is present on the premises of this temple, in which women are not allowed. It is said that Kartikeya is a celibate god, so no women enter this temple, even if women go, people get angry. Women are not even allowed to pray around this temple.
Dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya
The tomb of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya in South Delhi is a sacred shrine of the Sufi period. Women are not allowed to enter this dargah. Hazrat Nizamuddin was the fourth saint of the Chishti Gharana. This Sufi saint set an example of disinterest and tolerance. It is said that in 1303, the Mughal army stopped the attack at his behest, thus he became popular among people of all religions.
Muktagiri Jain Temple
There is a Jain temple in Guna, Madhya Pradesh. The main deity of this temple is Lord Shantinath. This temple was built in the year 1236. No woman or girl can enter this Jain temple with foreign clothes and makeup.
Kamakhya Temple
Maa Kamakhya or Kameshwari is called the goddess of desire. The famous temple of Kamakhya Devi is located in the middle of the Nilachal hill, located in the western part of Guwahati, the capital of the state of Assam in North East India. Maa Kamakhya Devalaya is considered to be the holiest and oldest of the 51 Shaktipeeths on earth. The interesting thing about the temple is that there is no idol established for the worship of the temple mother, but there is a flat rock in the shape of the vagina on the temple premises which is worshipped. And for this reason, women are not allowed to enter the temple during menstruation.
Mavli Temple
There is a temple of Mavli Mata at a distance of 5 kilometers from Dhamtari in Himachal. Women do not enter this temple. She worships from the entrance of the temple itself. There is a belief behind this that the mother had told in the dream that she is a virgin, so women should not enter her temple.
Mangal Chandi Temple
Mangal Chandi Temple is one of the few temples in India where the entry of women is restricted. The Mangal Chandi temple is home to a female deity, yet women are not allowed to enter the premises. This 200-year-old temple in Jharkhand accepts offerings only from men who visit the temple. It is said that if women worship the goddess in this temple, it may anger the goddess and bring misfortune.
