Shingnapur temple gets woman President

Anita Shete, who was inducted last week as one of the trustees, was announced as president of the trust. The Charity Commissioner had announced the nomination of Ms Shete, a housewife, along with another woman, Shalini Lande, as part of the 11 new trustees who would be at helm the affairs of the temple. However, rather than a conclusive demolishing of gender barriers, the gesture is being viewed largely as a symbolic one as Ms Shete is being perceived as being a conservative who is an ardent believer in, and a keeper of, centuries-old traditions. 

Following her appointment last week, Ms Shete, along with Ms Lande, is reported to have said that the tradition of female devotees not being allowed to worship the Shani deity would be maintained. "I have deep faith in different traditions followed at the temple and will ensure that they remain intact during my tenure," she said. One of the most controversial traditions has been the bar on entry of women in the inner sanctum of the temple where the rock idol of Lord Shani is installed. 

The temple's trustees were in the eye of the storm in November last year, when a woman attempted to enter the sanctum where the rock idol of Lord Shani is installed. In December, four women from the Bhumata Brigade had attempted to breach the stiff security cordon.