The ruling sparked anger among traditionalists, including supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist BJP ahead of elections later this year. On January 2, after protestors prevented other attempts, two women managed to sneak inside just before dawn, prompting days of unrest that left one man dead and led to several thousand arrests. The fresh attempt by two other women on Wednesday was unsuccessful, however. Hindu groups believe that women of menstruating age should not enter as the temple deity, Ayyappa, was celibate. Women are barred from a handful of Hindu temples in India, including Sabarimala, where it was considered a taboo for centuries before the ban was given legal force by the Kerala High Court in 1991.

Source: Dhaka Tribune January 16, 2019 15:56 UTC