Women not allowed to enter Padmanabhaswamy temple vault for inventory

The expert committee which is inventorying invaluable treasures in the vaults of the Sree Padmanabhasway Temple has decided not to allow women officials to enter the chambers following objections from temple authorities.

The decision was taken at an urgent meeting of the committee after the temple authorities yesterday objected to a woman expert from the Archaeological Survey of India entering the chamber for the inventorying.

Temple officials held that women are not permitted to enter the temple vaults as it was against the customs and traditions of the shrine.

"After the meeting discussed the issue, we have decided not to permit women, even though they are inventory officials, into the temple vaults. Entry of women into the vaults is against the age-old customs of the temple," temple Executive Officer V K Harikumar said.

"One or two women are there among the experts who are designated to enter the vaults as part of the inventory. But we cannot allow them," he said, adding, women employees of the temple do not work in the vicinity of vaults.

He also said the expert committee would make substitute arrangements to fill the vacancy.

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