'Purification' By Sabarimala Priests: 'Untouchability' Against Women?

What happened today at the Sabarimla temple in Kerala was historic - two women below the age of 50 walked into the shrine, before daybreak, becoming the first to do so since the Supreme Court ordered the end of a decades-old ban on women of menstrual age. What happened after that however was truly medieval - the temple actually shut down for a ritual "purification" for some time, before reopening to devotees. Bindu and Kanaka Durga, both in their early 40s, entered the shrine around 3.45 am. In a video accessed by NDTV, the women are seen hurrying into the shrine, dressed in all-black and escorted by the police. A group of protesters also appears to be at the spot.