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TIRUPATI, INDIA, May 21, 2005: A group of Agama Sastra (scriptural texts) experts is said to have advised the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the famous Sri Venkateswara temple, against the move to involve woman barbers for tonsuring heads of woman devotees who have it done to fulfill their religious vow. The issue came up during a meeting of the TTD Trust Board chaired by Chairman Dr. T. Subbarami Reddy at Tirumala yesterday in which almost all members took part. In an informal chat with reporters here after inaugurating new facilities for the devotees, Dr. Reddy said, “The TTD Board is examining the views of Agama Sastra experts on allowing woman barbers in Tirumala. As the experts have expressed their reservations over the issue, the Board is postponing a decision on this.” A few months ago, a woman barbers’ association had submitted a plea to the Andhra Pradesh Endowments Minister demanding that woman barbers be engaged to tonsure the heads of women devotees. So far, men alone have been involved in the job. The TTD apparently okayed the proposal at first but did not go ahead following objections from Swami Swaroopanendra of Visakhapatnam and also from men who are engaged in the task now.

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