NEWS DESK- About 5 million women in Kerala, India, formed a 620-kilometer human chain to advocate for women's entry and gender equality in Sabarimala, one of the most important temples of Hinduism.

 

In Kerala province in southern India, on January 1, 2019, about 5 million women formed a 620-kilometer human chain.  The chain was formed to defend women's entry to one of the most important temples of Hinduism, Sabarimala,and for the gender equality of women extended from the north to the south of the province.

 

Since the Sabarimala temple, which is considered important and sacred to Hinduism, is closed to the women of age of having their periods, women between the ages of 10-50 are not allowed to the temple.

 

In September 2018, the Supreme Court of India ruled that the ban be abolished; however, women trying to enter the temple continue to be hindered by the Hindus.

 

Early on Wednesday (January 2nd), two women under the age of fifty were the first women to enter the temple. The women announced by the Indian press as their names Bindu and Kanaka Durga had tried to enter the temple last month, but were hindered by the Hindu protesters. 

 

A young protester Kavita Das who spoke to BBB India said: " This is a way of showing the world how powerful women are when we support each other. I defend the right of the women of every age being able to get inside the temple.No tradition or backward thinking can stop the women. Everyone who wants to woship has a right to do so."

 

The women's wall created to implement the court decision and defend gender equality was supported by the left-wing party in power in the province.

 However, India's ruling party, Bharatiya Janata (BJP), argues that the court's decision is "an attack on the values of India."

 

 BJP, which consists mostly of Hindus, is following religious separatist policies.