Dalit MLA's visit to temple followed by 'shudhikalasha' with 'Gangajal'

A temple and ashram in Uttar Pradesh’s Hamirpur district were “purified” and the idols cleansed with Gangajal after a Dalit woman MLA from the BJP visited the premises to attend a function.

The shocking incident came to light on Monday after a video of the “purification ritual” went viral on social media.

According to locals, women are barred from entering the Dhurm Rishi temple in Muskura Khurd village.

The BJP woman MLA from Raath constituency, Manisha Anuragi had visited the Dhrum Rishi temple on July 12. Locals and the priest conducted a ceremony to purify the temple today and the statues of deities were sent to Allahabad to be purified.

The temple is believed to be centuries old and women devotees are prohibited from entering its premises. The reaction of the priest of the temple was that had he known about her entry, he would not have allowed that because of the ban on women entering it.