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April 20, 2016/ Wednesday

From: MB/Mumbai
Tiff outside Trimbakeshwar temple
NASHIK/MUMBAI: A group of women were manhandled by another
group when they were trying to reach towards the sanctum
sanctorum of the Trimbakeshwar temple of Lord Shiva, one of the
jotirlingas in the Nashik district.
The tiff apparently arose out of the dress code.
The Trimbakeshwar Devasthan Trust had decided last week to
allow women into the Lord Shiva temples sanctum sanctorum for
an hour every day, but with a condition that they should wear wet
cotton or silk clothes while offering prayers in the core area.
Activists of the Pune-based Swarajya Mahila Sanghatana, headed
by Vanita Gutte, had assembled in the morning and then they
were asked to come after bathing and in cotton clothes. When
they returned they were told that the timings to go to the
sanctum sanctorum was over.
Later they had a tiff after which they were manhandled. Nearly
200 persons were booked under IPC sections 354 (assault or
criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 341
(wrongful restraint), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke
breach of the peace), and 34 (acts done by several persons in
furtherance of common intention).
DH News Service

Bhumata Brigade to intervene in HC


The Bhumata Ranragini Brigade on Wednesday said that it would
intervene in the Bombay High Court before whom a petition
where Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA), a womens
group has filed a plea seeking entry of women in the Haji Ali
dargah. We would definitely like to approach the Bombay High
Court for an early decision, the brigades president Trupti Desai
said. She said that her organization would back the efforts of all
the organizations and bodies seeking entry of women in Haji Ali

dargah. Its a campaign of gender equality, not specific on any


temple of mosque, she said.
Haji Ali
The Haji Ali shrine of the 15th century Sufi saint is located on
about 500 yards from the shoreline of Worli in the middle of the
Arabian Sea. During the high tide, the dargah seems completely
isolated with no access - it looks more like a little island. Every
Friday, more than 40,000 to 50,000 devotees - including women visit the Haji Ali Dargah. The Haji Ali Dargah is the complex
housing the tomb of the Muslim saint Sayyed Pir Haji Ali Shah
Bukhari. Alongside the tomb, there is also a masjid at Haji Ali. This
monument has been sentinel to the shores of Mumbai since a
long time and lakhs of people cutting across religion - visit
here annually. It is administered and managed by the Haji Ali
Dargah Trust. The complex is an exquisite example of Indo-Islamic
architecture, was constructed in 1431 in memory of a wealthy
Muslim merchant, Sayyed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari, who gave up
all his worldly possessions before making a pilgrimage to Mecca.
Hailing from Bukhara, in the ancient Persian Empire (present day
Uzbekistan), Bukhari travelled around the world in the early to
mid 15th century, and then settled in Mumbai.

Demand to allow women inside Haji Ali dargah


MUMBAI: Amidst nationwide campaign and protests seeking entry
of women in temples, more than 50 organisations and prominent
personalities on Wednesday came under one banner to launch a
movement, Haji Ali Sabke Liye, demanded that women be allowed
in the dargah located at Worli.
People like social activist Javed Anand and filmmaker Saeed Mirza
were among those who conceived the campaign and pressure
group, which also saw the participation of Trupti Desai, the
founder of Bhumata Ranragini Brigade, that spear headed the

campaign for entry of women at Shani Shingnapur temple,


Mahalaxmi temple and Trimbakeshwar among others.
At the inaugural press conference at the Mumbai Marathi Patrakar
Sangh here, however, a small group led by one who identified
himself as Javed Lodiya and claimed to be a journalist and
human rights leader, said that Sharia does not allow entry of
women in dargah. However, when he asserted to make a point,
the organizers requested him to leave the audience. In fact, noted
Islamic scholar Dr Zeenat Shaukat Ali, said that it was
misinterpretation.
Please leave.you also call a press conference and make your
point rather than disrupting our press conference, said Feroze
Mithiborwala who was one of the activists in the forefront of
galvansing the forces to demand entry of women at Haji Ali.
Everyone has to make his or point noted, but this is not the
way, said veteran peace activist Jatin Desai.
A women's group, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA), has
filed a petition which is currently before the Bombay High Court.
The forum is of the firm view that womens entry in a dargah is
not a religious issue but something to do with custom and
tradition. In fact, till 2011, the practice at Haji Ali dargah was not
to put any restriction on women. Whats more some of the Haji Ali
dargahs trustees are also trustees of the Makhdoom Baba dargah
at Mahim where even today there is not restriction on women,
Anand said.
He said that it would be logical if the trustees themselves remove
the restrictions.
We are seeking an audience with them.we would impress upon
them our request, he said, adding that on April 28 a peaceful
dharna has also been planned at Haji Ali dargah
DH News Service

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