<p>A day after protests over non-entry of women to the sanctum sanctorum of Shani temple in Ahmednagar, agitators met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and urged him to reverse the restriction.<br /><br /></p>.<p>However, solution to the issue looks unlikely as the tradition at Shani Shingnapur, where a five-and-a-half feet swayambu black rock signifying Shani is installed on an open platform, dates back five centuries.<br /><br />The Shri Shanaishwar Devasthan Shani Shingnapur-Newasa that runs the temple as well as people of the town are opposed to breaking the tradition. The campaign gained momentum in November when a woman was caught on CCTV while crossing the security barricade into the chauthara or platform where the idol was installed. A day later, villagers performed a ‘dudh-abhishekan’ at the sanctum to purify the deity.<br /><br />A 40-year-old housewife Anita Shetye, who became the temple trust’s Chairperson on January 11, vowed to maintain the tradition.<br /><br />“The Chief Minister said he supports us,” Trupti Desai of the Bhumata Rangranai Brigade that spearheads the agitation said.</p>
<p>A day after protests over non-entry of women to the sanctum sanctorum of Shani temple in Ahmednagar, agitators met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and urged him to reverse the restriction.<br /><br /></p>.<p>However, solution to the issue looks unlikely as the tradition at Shani Shingnapur, where a five-and-a-half feet swayambu black rock signifying Shani is installed on an open platform, dates back five centuries.<br /><br />The Shri Shanaishwar Devasthan Shani Shingnapur-Newasa that runs the temple as well as people of the town are opposed to breaking the tradition. The campaign gained momentum in November when a woman was caught on CCTV while crossing the security barricade into the chauthara or platform where the idol was installed. A day later, villagers performed a ‘dudh-abhishekan’ at the sanctum to purify the deity.<br /><br />A 40-year-old housewife Anita Shetye, who became the temple trust’s Chairperson on January 11, vowed to maintain the tradition.<br /><br />“The Chief Minister said he supports us,” Trupti Desai of the Bhumata Rangranai Brigade that spearheads the agitation said.</p>
