SHATTERING PATRIARCHAL PRACTICES

Women from Tamil Nadu can now become temple priests. S RAMYA was one of the first three. She speaks to Kayal Arivalan about the journey

- Kayal Arivalan

It is a common belief that menstruating women should not enter temples. Furthermore, women have been barred from entering the sanctums (garbhagriha) within temples. Challenging these patriarchal norms, three women from Tamil Nadu have set a precedent by becoming temple priests.

In a historic move, Krishnaveni, S Ramya, and N Ranjitha have been appointed as assistant priests, breaking a long-standing tradition whereby only male priests were allowed to perform pujas. They have received their appointment letters and have been assigned to temples managed by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department under the state government.