Mumbai: Haji Ali

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This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content.

Women's entry to the sanctum sanctorum

The Times of India, Jan 30 2016

Mohammed Wajihuddin

Haji Ali curbs on women a recent move, not tradition

Women's entry to the sanctum sanctorum of Mumbai's iconic Haji Ali Dargah. Activists are protesting the curbs on women accessing key parts of the Haji Ali Dargah that had been allowed for almost 400 years. In 2012 BMMA members found that the trustees of Haji Ali Dargah had restricted women's entry to the revered Saint's shrine. “Suddenly we found the saint's grave had been barricaded. Women were allowed to offer prayers from near the barricade. Men could go in, even touch the saint's tomb,“ said Niaz. “We never stopped women from the shrine. We separated entry-exit routes for men and women to avoid their mixing and protect women,“ said SohailKhandwani, a trustee at the Dargah. A 2012 BMMA survey found that of Mumbai's 19 Sufi shrines, seven, including Haji Ali dargah, barred women. Other famous dargahs, including Mumbai's MahimDargah and KhwajaMoinuddin Chishti Dargah in Ajmer, allow unrestricted entry of women.