Court to review women entering flashpoint temple

India’s top court yesterday agreed to hear challenges to its decision to overturn a ban on women of menstruating age from entering a Hindu temple, after protests against the ruling. The Supreme Court said it would review the petitions on January 22 but until then women and girls aged 10 to 50 could still pray at Sabarimala in Kerala.

“We make it clear that there is no stay of the judgement and order of this court dated 28 September 2018,” the fivejudge bench said. Some temple devotees angrily resisted the order and prevented female worshippers from entering the shrine when it reopened in October for a few days.

Another showdown looms with at least 300,000 worshippers -- including 560 women of menstruating age -- registered to visit Sabarimala when it reopens again in November. Traditionalists say the court ignored their beliefs and devotion to Ayyappa, the temple’s celibate deity.