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RThis really pissed me off so just putting it out here. Recently went to the Swaminarayan Mandir opposite Dadar station with a lady friend. We had to meet a swami whose office was inside the temple, near the area where they prepare prasad.
Everything seemed fine till the staff just stopped my friend and said “women not allowed” beyond that point. No proper explanation, nothing. Just a flat-out no. She wasn’t on her period, she was dressed properly in Indian traditional clothes, we were respectful and all. Still, she was denied entry.
From what we could make out, it’s probably because that was the prasad preparation area, and women are seen as “impure” in such places. It’s 2025, and we’re in Mumbai, not some rural backlane. How are temples still allowed to follow this Brahmanical nonsense that sees women as less pure or spiritually unfit?
Like what even is this logic? Just being a woman is enough reason to get banned from a religious space?
This is just another example of how patriarchal and outdated some so-called traditions are, and they keep getting protected under the name of religion. Honestly sick of it. No one questions it, no one talks about it, and women just silently face it all the time.
If anyone knows where we can formally report this kind of discrimination or raise awareness, please comment. This needs to stop being normal.
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EIt’s not about impurity.
There are many temples which have tradition of no women entry. Learn a bit about history of that temple before making such accusations.
Here are examples of some temples which put restrictions on men
Kamakhya Temple (during Ambubachi Mela) – Assam
Restriction: During the Ambubachi Mela, men are not allowed into the temple for three days, symbolizing the goddess’s menstruation.Brahma Temple, Pushkar – Rajasthan
Restriction: Married men are not allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum.Mata Temple, Muzaffarpur – Bihar
Restriction: Men are not allowed during the 3-day menstrual cycle of the goddess.Bhagati Maa Temple, Kanya Kumari – Tamil Nadu
Restriction: In certain areas of the temple, unmarried men are not allowed, as the goddess is considered a virginP.S: I am atheist by the way, not sure why you people are crazy to enter a temple when as per the story and mythology — the gods themselves doesn’t want you(women) to enter.
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Dbro kuch mandiro ke apni ek story hoti hai jis wajah se vo baney te for eg read about sabrimala mandir womens are not allowed because lord ayyappa was a celibate thats why womens are not allowed and their is a temple in rajasthan brahma temple mens are not allowed their because of a reason . So my friend its not about patriarchy or discrimination .
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MBroo why would u even go there. don’t you know about Swaminarayan??
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RWhy go to swaminarayan temple when you don’t understand their customs? Swami Narayan was supposed to be a brahmachari. . Don’t like it, go to some other temple.
The temple is not a public place, it’s a private space.-
RFrom what I know women are allowed in temple,I’m not making it up but she wasn’t allowed in the office which was situated next to prasad making place
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RMan, the office is not even a religious place. Why did you feel the need to label it as a religious misogyny issue? I could see the problem if a woman was not allowed into the prayer hall or sanctum. But office?
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RI’ve encountered such thing for the first time. The office was itself in temple premises but for the work we went there I was dependent on my senior lady, and just because of gender restricting entry is something I couldn’t figure we’ll,I’m not criticising hinduism even womens aren’t allowed in masjids, but this was kind of a cultural shock to me maybe I’m not knowledgeable entirely about traditional beliefs or the core reason behind it of swami Narayan temple but it felt wrong from inside.
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REntry in the office being restricted to men only is as absurd as it sounds. Maybe that particular employee was a misogynist. Although swaminarayan temples are very liberal in my experience.
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RThe person who directed us their and the watchman everyone said the entry is allowed for only men it wasn’t one person only but when I went there and saw she wasn’t allowed there because at that place they were cooking prasad for the mandir left me stunned because I had heard this before in movies and stories that woman brings impurity but seeing this today was total shock although I’ve not been to swaminarayan temple so can’t comment on that
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SFollow law of the land, simple.
Not everything is about feminism and gender discrimination.
Did you ever posted about male stag entry being denied in almost all pubs across every metro cities (while couples and female stags allowed). They dont have any real logic.The point being you follow the law of the land. Also as stated by someone in comments, each temple has a backstory and some rituals, let them follow that. Be respectful. Its as simple as that. Nothing more nothing less.
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