shrine. The state government and the district level court of Pune directed the temple officials to allow women in the shrine based on their constitutional rights. On 8 April 2016, the day celebrated as Gudi Padwa—the new year day of the Maharashtrian calendar—Desai along with other female members of the Brigade entered the shrine of Shani Shingnapur Temple. Post Shingnapur entry, Desai reached the Mahalakshmi Temple in Kolhapur where the temple management committee allowed her entry but the priests became violent against her. Five priests were arrested for attacking Desai and the protestors. She also entered the inner sanctum of the Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple near Nashik where she was peacefully escorted by the police, but only with wet clothes similar to how the temple allows men. In April 2016, she made an attempt to enter the Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai; however, an angry mob made it unsuccessful. Desai claimed that she received a death threat if she again tried to enter the dargah—a type of Islamic shrine. On 12 May 2016, she made a second attempt and entered the mosque under tight security but not in the inner sanctum where women are not allowed. In November 2018, she made an unsuccessful attempt to visit the Sabarimala temple in Kerala during the Mandalam-Makaravilakk pilgrim season. The temple had legal as well as religious restrictions that prevented the entry of women of menstruating age (approx. 10–50 years) since 1991 which was overturned through a verdict by the Supreme Court of India in October 2018. Even though a dozen women of menstruating age had attempted to visit the temple after the verdict came, all of them proved unsuccessful largely due to protests. Desai was also blocked by protesters at Cochin International Airport on 16 November 2018, while on her journey to Sabarimala. She decided to return after getting stranded inside the airport for more than 14 hours and vowed to come back again. She did not. Reality Shows References Indian civil rights activists Living people Indian National Congress politicians from Maharashtra Indian founders Women founders Indian women's rights activists Politicians from Pune People from Belagavi district Marathi politicians Maharashtra politicians Women in Maharashtra politics Activists from Maharashtra 21st-century Indian women politicians 21st-century Indian politicians Women activists 1985 births Bigg Boss Marathi contestants