Cutting across political lines, women politicians have expressed support of the women who are challenging such restrictions.
Four women on Sunday attempted to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the famous Shani Shingnapur temple in Ahmednagar District of Maharashtra, defying rules that they said perpetuated gender inequality.
Triggering high drama and later protests in their support, four women attempted to climb their way over barricades towards the shrine where women are not allowed. They were stopped and taken away.
The bid came after last month a woman had done the same causing temple authorities to undertake "purification rituals" igniting the debate on gender discrimination especially at in places of worship.
Cutting across political lines, women politicians have expressed support of the women who are challenging such restrictions.
Congress legislator Praniti Shinde told NDTV, "Doors of this particular temple should be opened up to women. I feel that this needs to be changed, and that's why I applaud this woman's guts for having done this."
BJP Spokesperson Shaina NC, "On one hand, you worship women as Durga, Saraswati and all the various goddesses, on the other, if she does prays at one place you say you need to cleanse the entire system."
"We as women of BJP have requested our government to take this very seriously as it is about the dignity and respect of women all across the country," Shaina NC added.
One of the women who made the attempt on Sunday at the temple said, "This time only four women have come. If they do not allow women to enter, then 400 women volunteers of Bhoomata Brigade will come and make their way in."
The discrimination is not limited to the Shani Shignapur temple alone. The Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai has banned the entry of women into the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine. This has been challenged by the Muslim Mahila Andolan in court and the shrine's trustees have told the court it was a "sin" for women to be in close proximity of a Muslim saint.