Bringing an end to the centuries-old tradition, a woman from Bhota area of Hamirpur along with her two daughters entered the world famous Baba Balak Nath temple at Deotsidh on Saturday evening and offered prayers.
The cave, which was earlier out-of-bounds for women, had recently opened its doors to women and those who wanted to pay obeisance had to go through a platform constructed in front of the cave.
Following the Shani Shignapur controversy, authorities of the Baba Balak Nath temple had clarified that there was no ban on the entry of women in the cave and they could offer prayers to “Babaji” by going inside the cave.
According to sources, the woman who entered the cave on Saturday evening was allegedly asked by the temple’s security staff to take a separate route to enter the cave but she entered the cave through the same route that was opted by other devotees.
Ishwar Dass Sharma, a temple official, confirmed that a woman along with her daughters had entered the cave and offered prayers on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the incident has evoked mixed responses from people. Followers of the baba from Punjab told HT on Sunday that since Babaji was brahanmchari (bachelor), women were not allowed to go nearby the cave and said the century-old tradition should continue.
