At a time when Goddess Durga is worshipped with full fervour, the annual event coming to symbolise women’s power in popular perception, there is a temple in Bihar dedicated to the deity to which women are not allowed entry during the Navaratras.
The deity is known widely as Aashapuri, meaning the one who fulfils all the wishes of devotees, and is visited by thousands of devotees throughout the year.
But such is its tradition that women are not allowed on the temple premises, leave alone its sanctum sanctorum, during the nine-day period of Durga worship.
“We follow a purely Taantrik style of puja during Navaratra, of which women cannot be a part,” said Purendra Upadhyay, one of the priests of the temple.
“It’s an old tradition and people do not want to defy it as it is believed that the violation of this rule may put a divine curse over the village and its people,” he added.
