As these days I'm working on some interesting topic rather than suggesting you itinerary as I want to share some fact across the country, as a traveler I thought that people should know these things and the reason behind these things.
So For the last six months or so, we have been reading about news, views, and articles on temples in India where women were not allowed entry. India is a religious country, the issue of women entering restricted premise at holy places such as Shani Shingnapur or Sabarimala or Ayyappa temple became a burning topic across the nation. But do you know that there are places of worship/temples in India where men are barred from entering the premise at all or on select days and occasions. Yes, temples where only women are allowed. So Let's dig out the temples name and reason or Belief behind the restriction.
ATTUKAL TEMPLE– The Attukal Bhagavathy Temple located in Kerala is one such temple where women are the dominant force. The temple’s Pongala festival – a festival where millions of women participate – has also made it to the Guinness Book of World Records. This festival is regarded as the largest gathering of women for any religious activity. Pongala is a 10-day festival which falls during February & March and women offer bangles to the goddess (Devi).
CHAKKULATHUKAVU TEMPLE - This is another temple in Kerala dedicated to the Goddess Bhagavathi. its follow peculiar annual rituals called ‘Naari Puja’. On the first Friday of December called Dhanu, the male priest washes the feet of female devotees who have fasted for 10 days.a
BRAHMA TEMPLE, PUSHKAR - The temple of Lord Brahma at Pushkar in Rajasthan is one of the most prominent temples of Lord Brahma. The married men are not allowed to enter the temple, Once in a year, during Kartik Poornima of the Hindu lunar month of Kartik religious festival is held in Brahma honor. The temple dates back to 14th century.
The reason why men are not allowed on the premises is that according to legends, Lord Brahma performed a yagna at the Pushkar lake which he had to perform with his wife goddess Saraswati. Goddess Saraswati was late for the event, so Lord Brahma married goddess Gayatri and completed the rituals. Goddess Saraswati cursed the temple that no married man is allowed to visit the inner sanctum otherwise a trouble will arise in his marital life.
MATA TEMPLE - Men are prohibited at the Mata Temple in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, as the temple management allows only women during the time of 'periods'. Here, the rules are so strictly followed that even a male priest is not allowed to enter the temple premises during that time. The temple turns 'women only' then.
Like the famous Kamakhya temple in Guwahati, the Kamakhya Peetham in Visakhapatnam also shuts its gates for men for some days in every month as it is believed that the goddess is having her menstruation cycle during this time.
The Kumari Amman temple situated in Kanyakumari has Maa Bhagawati Durga in its sanctum sanctorum. Here only sanyasis (celibate men) are allowed till the gate of the temple, while married men are prohibited from entering the premises. This place is believed to be the place where Mata Parvati did tapasya for gaining Lord Shiva as her husband. The temple is raised on the same spot. In this temple of Kanyakumari, Kanya (virgin) Ma Bhagawati Durga is worshipped by women only.
So Wherever you go make sure know about those places.
Happy Travelling Hoomans
Mach's Gut