Conservative Hindu groups prevented about a dozen young women from entering the temple last month believing it would defile the sacred shrine and petitioned the court to reconsider its decision. On Tuesday, the court said it would hear nearly 50 petitions seeking reimposition of the ban on women on Jan. 22, 2019. But until then, its earlier ruling on allowing women into the shrine would remain in force, it said in an order. In some Hindu communities, menstruating women are regarded as unclean, leading to restrictions and in a few cases outright bans from entering certain places. The temple, nestled in a forest on a hillside in the Western Ghats mountain range, is due to open on Friday.

Source: bd News24 November 13, 2018 17:07 UTC