Haji Ali dargah bars entry of women to the tomb area

November 06, 2012 11:04

The management of Mumbai's iconic Sufi shrine, Haji Ali dargah, has restricted the entry of women.

As per its order, women will not be allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum that houses the tomb of 15th century Sufi saint Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari.

However, the trust has allowed women roam freely within the dargah's compound.

"They can offer their prayers, do namaaz and offer shawls and flowers. We are only requesting our sisters not to enter inside the dargah," said Rizwan Merchant, trustee of the Haji Ali dargah and also a noted criminal lawyer.

The decision to ban entry of women has evoked sharp criticism from several quarters, including the film fraternity. The revered dargah is located on a bed of rock 500 yards into the Arabian Sea and off the coast of Worli in south-central Mumbai. The dargah is one of the most recognisable landmarks of Mumbai.

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

In Pictures - City make history! 4th straight EPL title secured

Manchester City celebrate unprecedented fourth successive league title

KKR await SRH in Qualifier 1; RR face RCB in Eliminator

Rajasthan Royals paid the price for their shoddy show during the business end as a washout of their final IPL league game

In Pictures - Sunrisers demolish Punjab Kings to finish second

Images from the IPL match between Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, at the Rajiv Gandhi stadium, Hyderabad, on Sunday.

Gopi Thotakura becomes first Indian space tourist on Blue Origin

Thotakura was selected as one of the six crew members for the NS-25 mission, making him the first Indian space tourist and the second Indian to venture into space after the Indian Army's Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma in 1984.

Rescue teams launch search for Iranian president's helicopter

The details of the incident remain unknown as of now, however, initial reports suggest that the accident involved the president's helicopter and foggy weather.