Menstruating women not allowed in Fire Temple: Delhi Parsi Anjuman

New Delhi: The Delhi Parsi Anjuman (DPA) has told the Delhi High Court that barring women from entering the Fire Temple during their period of menstruation is done with the purpose of protecting the consecrated fire. It also added that the entry of such women of any religion including Zoroastrianism inside a Fire Temple is neither legally nor constitutionally permissible.

“Even Zoroastrian men are excluded from entering Fire Temple if they are suffering from a bodily injury and bleeding,” the DPA said in an affidavit filed before a bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice A.J. Bhambhani. “The exclusion of Zoroastrian women during their period of menstruation for the purpose of protecting the consecrated fire is a core, essential and unalterable part/tenant of Zoroastrianism,” the affidavit said. The DPA said that the prohibition is neither absolute nor arbitrary as it is during the short term of menstrual cycle.

The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by lawyer Sanjiv Kumar seeking direction to declare that the prohibition on non-Parsi men and women, to enter the Sanctum Sanctorum of the holy Fire Temple at the DPA, is illegal and unconstitutional. The DPA also told the court that it is legally a society registered under the Societies Registration Act and requested to differentiate itself from the Sabarimala Temple case. (IANS)

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