Two women have entered a Hindu temple for the first time since a ban was lifted on female visitors between the ages of 10 and 50. The women entered the Sabarimala temple in the southern state of Kerala on Wednesday. The move led to large protests across the state. The longtime ban barred women or girls of menstruating age from entering the temple, which draws millions of visitors each year. Some Hindus consider menstruating women to be impure. India’s Supreme Court ordered a lifting of the ban in September. But despite the ruling, opponents and conservatives continued to block women aged 10 to 50 from entering. A local police spokesperson said officers walked with the two women Wednesday to provide protection during their visit. The Reuters news service reported that a police official said officers also guarded the homes of the women after they left the temple. Police were also prepared to go with other women who wanted to enter the temple, the official said.
