INDIA, April 15, 2011: Kolhapur Collector Laxmikant Deshmukh and Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Satej Patil on Friday announced that women would henceforth be allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the Sri Mahalakshmi temple here.
This decision was taken at a meeting attended by the priests, the Devstan Management Committee officials, and Superintendent of Police Yashashwi Yadav.
It was decided to allow special puja by women at a specified time. The meeting also decided to fix specific hours for women to enter the sanctum sanctorum.
The developments in the last two days had created a surcharged atmosphere in the temple town as the Opposition parties tried to get political mileage out of the situation. On Wednesday and Thursday, women activists forcibly entered the sanctum and sanctorum of the temple. Women royalty used to be allowed into the sanctum.
The government then asked the Collector to put an end to the controversy.