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| 2 Indian Women Enter Sabarimala Temple, Setting Off Protests Near Hindu Shrine | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| NEW DELHI — Two women, accompanied by plainclothes police officers under the cover of darkness early on Wednesday morning, entered a centuries-old Hindu shrine in southern India that has long barred women of childbearing age — part of a continuing push for women’s equality in the country. | NEW DELHI — Two women, accompanied by plainclothes police officers under the cover of darkness early on Wednesday morning, entered a centuries-old Hindu shrine in southern India that has long barred women of childbearing age — part of a continuing push for women’s equality in the country. |
| In response, protests broke out around Kerala, the state where the shrine, the Sabarimala Temple, is located. According to local news reports, the police moved relatives of one of the women who entered the temple into a safe house. | In response, protests broke out around Kerala, the state where the shrine, the Sabarimala Temple, is located. According to local news reports, the police moved relatives of one of the women who entered the temple into a safe house. |
| But when news broke that the women had made it inside the temple, a Hindu priest shut down the complex for “purification rituals,” which typically occur when blood is spilled or children accidentally urinate. | But when news broke that the women had made it inside the temple, a Hindu priest shut down the complex for “purification rituals,” which typically occur when blood is spilled or children accidentally urinate. |
| Several dozen women have tried to enter the temple since October, after India’s Supreme Court ruled that the ban on women of childbearing age was unconstitutional. But none made it inside as thousands of protesters blocked the temple’s entrance. | Several dozen women have tried to enter the temple since October, after India’s Supreme Court ruled that the ban on women of childbearing age was unconstitutional. But none made it inside as thousands of protesters blocked the temple’s entrance. |
| In the hours before the two women entered the temple on Wednesday, the Communist Party of India, which governs Kerala, organized other demonstrations — partly about access to the temple but also as a broad opportunity, organizers said, to highlight gender equality in a country recently named the world’s most dangerous for women. | In the hours before the two women entered the temple on Wednesday, the Communist Party of India, which governs Kerala, organized other demonstrations — partly about access to the temple but also as a broad opportunity, organizers said, to highlight gender equality in a country recently named the world’s most dangerous for women. |
| On New Year’s Day, a “human chain” — a frequent form of protest in India — stood shoulder to shoulder along highways in southern India, creating a wall 300 miles long, according to party officials. | On New Year’s Day, a “human chain” — a frequent form of protest in India — stood shoulder to shoulder along highways in southern India, creating a wall 300 miles long, according to party officials. |
| Communist Party said 5.5 million people were in that chain. The local police authorities estimated the number at three million. | Communist Party said 5.5 million people were in that chain. The local police authorities estimated the number at three million. |
| “We are taking the pledge that we will uphold renaissance values,” the protesters chanted. “We will stand for equality for women! We will fight for secularism!” | “We are taking the pledge that we will uphold renaissance values,” the protesters chanted. “We will stand for equality for women! We will fight for secularism!” |
| In the fall, India’s nascent #MeToo movement suddenly jolted forward. Dozens of women in cities posted graphic stories on social media of sexual assault and harassment by public figures in journalism, entertainment, the arts and the highest levels of government. | In the fall, India’s nascent #MeToo movement suddenly jolted forward. Dozens of women in cities posted graphic stories on social media of sexual assault and harassment by public figures in journalism, entertainment, the arts and the highest levels of government. |
| Their protests were unusually successful, and many of the accused men resigned. | Their protests were unusually successful, and many of the accused men resigned. |
| In Kerala, after the women entered the temple, protesters forced shops to close, blocked traffic, pelted stones at the police, who fired tear gas canisters, and vandalized a government office in one district. At least a few police officers were injured, according to local media reports. | In Kerala, after the women entered the temple, protesters forced shops to close, blocked traffic, pelted stones at the police, who fired tear gas canisters, and vandalized a government office in one district. At least a few police officers were injured, according to local media reports. |
| But Habeeb Ullah, an officer stationed near the temple, said the two women, whose names were given only as Bindu and Kanakadurga, were “real heroines.” | But Habeeb Ullah, an officer stationed near the temple, said the two women, whose names were given only as Bindu and Kanakadurga, were “real heroines.” |
| On Tuesday Subhashini Ali, a Communist Party member, called out “evil forces” that she said were trying to manage women’s choices by creating “a floodlike crisis in the name of casteism, tradition and culture.” | On Tuesday Subhashini Ali, a Communist Party member, called out “evil forces” that she said were trying to manage women’s choices by creating “a floodlike crisis in the name of casteism, tradition and culture.” |
| “We can speak for ourselves,” she said onstage at an event in the city of Kochi. “We want our rights, our equality, and we have to move forward.” | “We can speak for ourselves,” she said onstage at an event in the city of Kochi. “We want our rights, our equality, and we have to move forward.” |
| The backgrounds of those forming the human wall were mixed, participants said. Women came in saris, burqas, nuns’ habits and jeans. Men joined as well. | The backgrounds of those forming the human wall were mixed, participants said. Women came in saris, burqas, nuns’ habits and jeans. Men joined as well. |
| Participants raised their arms with clenched fists. Some talked about increasing quotas for women in government posts and improving access for Dalits, low-caste Indians once known as untouchables. | Participants raised their arms with clenched fists. Some talked about increasing quotas for women in government posts and improving access for Dalits, low-caste Indians once known as untouchables. |
| In some areas, participants said, crowds swelled to such an extent that people had to form rows several people deep. | In some areas, participants said, crowds swelled to such an extent that people had to form rows several people deep. |
| “It was not just a wall,” said Sajitha Manaakat Veettil, 32, a teacher who participated from Kerala. “It was a great wall.” | “It was not just a wall,” said Sajitha Manaakat Veettil, 32, a teacher who participated from Kerala. “It was a great wall.” |
| Though Kerala’s development measures are better than most Indian states — attributable to higher levels of education and literacy — many participants were realistic about the challenges women face across the country. | Though Kerala’s development measures are better than most Indian states — attributable to higher levels of education and literacy — many participants were realistic about the challenges women face across the country. |
| Members of India’s governing Bharatiya Janata Party, which is center-right but has ties to Hindu nationalist groups, called news of the women’s entry into the temple a “black day.” Other parties also protested, demanding the resignation of top officials in Kerala. | Members of India’s governing Bharatiya Janata Party, which is center-right but has ties to Hindu nationalist groups, called news of the women’s entry into the temple a “black day.” Other parties also protested, demanding the resignation of top officials in Kerala. |
| B. Gopalakrishnan, a B.J.P. spokesman in Kerala, said that some women joining the wall had been forced to attend. His cousin’s employer, he said, had told her that if she did not participate in the protest, she would lose work opportunities. | B. Gopalakrishnan, a B.J.P. spokesman in Kerala, said that some women joining the wall had been forced to attend. His cousin’s employer, he said, had told her that if she did not participate in the protest, she would lose work opportunities. |
| He also said some people had been bribed. | He also said some people had been bribed. |
| “This is not a woman’s wall — it is a compulsion wall,” he said. | “This is not a woman’s wall — it is a compulsion wall,” he said. |
| Bhakti Pasrija Sethi, a lawyer in New Delhi who was involved in challenging the temple’s entry restrictions, dismissed those assertions, saying that the wall was an “indicator of the strong will of ladies who believe the ban is a superstition.” | Bhakti Pasrija Sethi, a lawyer in New Delhi who was involved in challenging the temple’s entry restrictions, dismissed those assertions, saying that the wall was an “indicator of the strong will of ladies who believe the ban is a superstition.” |
| The last 24 hours offered a peek at a more inclusive year, Ms. Sethi said. | The last 24 hours offered a peek at a more inclusive year, Ms. Sethi said. |
| “This is a harbinger of further good things,” she said. “It’s great.” | “This is a harbinger of further good things,” she said. “It’s great.” |