Thousands of Indian women form human chain across Kerala state in support of equal access to holy Hindu temple Sabarimala
- A court in Kerala state overturned a partial ban on women entering Sabarimala – one of Hinduism’s holiest temples – last year
- The ruling has been opposed by Hindu groups and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party
Thousands of women formed a human chain across a southern Indian state on Tuesday, in support of a court order overturning a partial ban on women entering one of Hinduism’s holiest temples.
The “Women’s Wall” rally was backed by the communist government in Kerala state where the court order on Sabarimala temple has triggered weeks of protests by opponents and supporters of the ban.
Media reports and supporters of the initiative claimed hundreds of thousands of women formed a human chain across the 620-kilometre (385-mile) length of the state.
Government employees took part in the demonstration, while schools were given a half day and university exams delayed so that students could join the protest, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.
A government statement issued before the event predicted 5 million women would participate in the protest.