NEW DELHI—India’s Supreme Court on Friday lifted a temple’s ban on women of menstruating age, holding that equality is supreme irrespective of age and gender. The historic Sabarimala temple had barred women age 10 to 50 from entering the temple, one of the largest Hindu pilgrimage centres in the world. Hindu worshippers stand outside the Sabarimala temple in the southern Indian state of Kerala in December 2015. The temple argued the celibate nature of Sabarimala temple’s presiding deity Lord Ayyappa was protected by India’s Constitution. Read more: India’s Supreme Court strikes down adultery law Emma Teitel | Opinion: India court ruling a breakthrough for LGBTQ rights, but worldwide outlook uncertain “Religion cannot be the cover to deny women the right to worship.

Source: thestar September 28, 2018 12:56 UTC