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{{short description|Social movements}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}}
The '''Ready To Wait''' campaign is a social movement initiated in September 2016 by a group of female devotees of Hindu deity [[Ayyappan]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Sabarimala-debate-HappyToBleed-Vs-ReadyToWait/articleshow/53945601.cms|title=Sabarimala debate: #HappyToBleed Vs #ReadyToWait - Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=2018-08-10}}</ref> as a response to a petition filed in the Supreme Court by women's groups to demand the right to enter the [[Sabarimala]] temple, located in the southern Indian state of [[Kerala]], which traditionally restricts entry of women of reproductive age (10 to 50 yrs). The campaigners of "Ready To Wait" asserted their willingness to respect the traditions regarding entry to the [[Sabarimala]] temple.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://indiafacts.org/readytowait-campaign-reclaim-hindu-temples-traditions/|title=#ReadyToWait: A campaign to reclaim Hindu temples and traditions {{!}} IndiaFacts|date=2016-08-31|work=IndiaFacts|access-date=2018-08-10|language=en-US}}</ref> It started as a social media campaign with the [[Hashtag activism|hashtag]] #ReadyToWait and soon gained momentum as Hindu women from all over the country took to social media to show their support.

The women devotees eventually petitioned the Supreme Court to intervene in the pending litigation on [[Sabarimala|Sabarimala temple]] entry for women of a certain age, through "People for Dharma", a Chennai-based organization.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Ready-to-wait-till-50-to-enter-Sabarimala-Women%E2%80%99s-group/article16082574.ece|title=Ready to wait till 50 to enter Sabarimala: Women's group|last=Rajagopal|first=Krishnadas|date=2016-10-27|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-08-10|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite news|url=http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/womens-group-moves-sc-over-sabarimala-entry-says-we-are-readytowait-52004|title=Women's group moves SC over Sabarimala entry, says 'We are ReadyToWait'|last1=Varier|first1=Megha|date=27 October 2016|work=The News Minute|access-date=13 December 2016}}</ref> The lawyer for "People for Dharma", [[J Sai Deepak]] argued for the rights of [[Ayyappan]], the deity of [[Sabarimala]] temple as a distinct legal personality for which he received praise by the [[Supreme Court of India]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/sc-praises-lawyer-for-spirited-defence-in-sabarimala-case-118072601333_1.html|title=SC praises lawyer for spirited defence in Sabarimala case|agency=Press Trust of India|date=2018-07-26|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2018-08-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sabarimala-case-deity-living-person-has-right-to-privacy-women-devotees-to-sc-5278481/|title=Sabarimala case: Deity living person, has right to privacy, women devotees to SC|date=2018-07-27|work=The Indian Express|access-date=2018-08-10|language=en-US}}</ref> On 28 September 2018 Indian Supreme Court ruled in favor of the petitioners allowing entry of women in Sabarimala temple with a 4:1 majority with the only female judge, Justice [[Indu Malhotra]] being the dissenting opinion.<ref name="The Indian Express">{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sabarimala-verdict-what-justice-indu-malhotra-said-dissenting-opinion-5377812/|title=Sabarimala verdict: Here's what Justice Indu Malhotra said in her dissenting opinion|date=2018-09-28|work=The Indian Express|access-date=2018-10-01|language=en-US}}</ref> Travancore Devaswom Board is expected to file an appeal against this decision.<ref name="The Indian Express"/>

== Background ==
According to the legend, [[Ayyappan]], the main deity of the [[Sabarimala|Sabarimala temple]], has taken a vow to remain in the state of ''[[Brahmacharya|naiṣṭhika-brahmacarya]]'' (eternal celibacy) in his form at Sabarimala Temple. As such the shrine restricts entry to women of reproductive age (10 to 50 yrs). This restriction was previously challenged as well, however, the [[Kerala High Court]] had upheld the restriction in its 1991 judgement.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Call-for-1991-Sabarimala-case-records-Kerala/article14005416.ece|title=Call for 1991 Sabarimala case records: Kerala|last=Rajagopal|first=Krishnadas|date=2016-01-19|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-08-11|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> An organization called "Indian Young Lawyers Association" filed a [[Public interest litigation in India|public interest litigation]] in 2006<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/sabarimala-womens-entry-debate-readytowait-campaign-renewed-85261|title=Sabarimala women's entry debate: ReadytoWait campaign renewed|date=2018-07-23|work=The News Minute|access-date=2018-08-11}}</ref> but it didn't gain national prominence until January 2016 when the Supreme Court asked the [[Government of Kerala]] and [[Travancore Devaswom Board]] to submit their response with regards to temple entry issue.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/sc-asks-why-women-can-t-enter-sabarimala-temple-116011100798_1.html|title=SC asks why women can't enter Sabarimala temple|last=Reporter|first=B. S.|date=2016-01-12|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2018-08-12}}</ref> The case was finally referred to a five-member bench by [[Supreme Court of India]] in October 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/with-5-posers-sc-sends-sabarimala-case-to-5-judge-constitution-bench/articleshow/61076161.cms|title=With 5 posers, SC sends Sabarimala case to 5-judge Constitution bench - Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=2018-08-12}}</ref> This was around the same time when the Supreme Court of India had decided to uplift the restrictions barring entry of women to [[Haji Ali Dargah]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/Haji-Ali-Dargah-to-allow-entry-of-women/article16080565.ece|title=Haji Ali Dargah to allow entry of women|last=Rajagopal|first=Krishnadas|date=2016-10-24|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-08-11|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> where the petitioners had also argued that restricting entry amounts to discrimination against women.

This led to the creation of a social media campaign using the hashtag of #ReadyToWait, where female devotees of Ayyappan posted their photographs holding placards bearing the slogan #ReadyToWait.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/sabarimala-row-gets-facebook-imprint/article9051795.ece|title=Sabarimala row gets Facebook imprint|date=2016-08-31|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=2016-09-12|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The campaign went viral within a day and was covered by mainstream media.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/ready-to-wait-campaign-sabarimala-temple-kerala-women-haji-ali-shani-mandir/360869/|title=These Kerala women are 'ReadyToWait' to beat 'conspiracy' against Sabarimala|date=2016-08-29|access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> The campaigners, led by five women devotees from Kerala, Shilpa Nair, Anjali George,<ref name=":0" /> Aishwarya Krishnan, Suja Pavithran, and Padma Pillai opposed this petition arguing that the restriction of entry is due to the celibate nature of the deity and therefore, not discriminatory against women.<ref name=":6" /> As such, respecting the traditions of the temple and the will of the deity, they are ready to wait until the appropriate age to visit Sabarimala.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=http://indiafacts.org/readytowait-campaign-reclaim-hindu-temples-traditions/|title=#ReadyToWait: A campaign to reclaim Hindu temples and traditions {{!}} IndiaFacts|date=2016-08-31|language=en-US|access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref> The campaigners also pointed out that the tradition at Sabarimala is based on the concept that Ayyappan of Sabarimala is in the form of a Kumāra (teenager) observing ''Brahmacharya''. They contrast this form of Ayyappan from other Ayyappan temples like [[Kulathupuzha Sastha Temple|Kulathupuzha]], [[Aryankavu Sastha Temple|Aryankavu]], and [[Achankovil Sastha Temple|Achankovil]]. In these other three temples, Ayyappan is in three different forms namely Bāla (child) in Kulathupuzha, [[Grihastha|Bhāryā-sameta]] (lit. accompanying wife) in Achankovil and [[Tapas (Sanskrit)|Tāpasa]] (ascetic) in Aryankavu. These four '[[Prana Pratishtha|pratiṣṭhas]]' (installations) denote the [[Ashrama (stage)|four stages]] of human life according to Hindu scriptures. Except in Sabarimala where Ayyappan is in his Brahmachari form, no other Ayyappan temple elsewhere restricts entry of women.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://samvada.org/2016/news/readytowait/|title=#ReadyToWait: A campaign to reclaim Hindu temples and traditions; Anjali George speaks to India Facts|date=2016-08-31|newspaper=Vishwa Samvada Kendra|language=en-US|access-date=2017-01-03}}</ref>

The overwhelming response to the social media campaign emboldened the organizers to file an application of intervention at the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]].<ref name=":1" /> ''People For Dharma'' was created as their legal entity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://peoplefordharma.org/interview-with-shilpa-nair/|title=Interview with Shilpa Nair – #ReadyToWait campaigner – People For Dharma|website=peoplefordharma.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-11}}</ref><ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://haindavakeralam.com/sabarimala-pil-readytowait-hk23265|title=Sabarimala PIL - #ReadyToWait, Women Devotees Move SCÂ|last=Keralam|first=Haindava|date=2016-10-28|work=Haindava Keralam|access-date=2018-08-11|language=en-US}}</ref> Their lawyer, [[J. Sai Deepak]], appeared in the Supreme Court of India on 26 July 2018 where he argued for the rights of Lord [[Ayyappan]] as a distinct legal personality. According to [[Press Trust of India]]'s report in [[Business Standard]]:<ref name=":2" /><blockquote>"The lawyer, who was initially granted 10-15 minutes time in the forenoon to put forth his submissions, argued for more than one-and-half hours without being asked by any of the judges to stop and was quick to respond to queries from the bench.</blockquote><blockquote>Arguing for the "constitutional right" of Lord Ayappan, he said the deity's will to remain celibate needed to be respected under Articles 21 (right to life and personal liberty) and 25(1) (freedom of religion) of the [[Constitution of India|Constitution]]."</blockquote>During the hearing, lawyers for the defendants pointed out that there are [[Hindu]] [[Attukal Temple|temples]] which forbid entry of men on particular days and contend that such practices are part of the history and cultural diversity of [[Indian religions|Indic Civilization]] that ought to be respected. Misunderstandings regarding Sabarimala are the outcome of ascribing a human form to God, they argue, and explain that [[Hinduism]] treats God as a manifestation of universal energy. The campaigners stress that there is no blanket ban on the entry of women and refute reports which claim so as motivated.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=http://www.theweek.in/news/india/sabarimala-women-devotees-say-they-are-ready-to-wait.html|title=Sabarimala row: Women devotees are #ReadyToWait|website=[[The Week (Indian magazine)|The Week]] |access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref>

The hearing for the petition concluded on 1 August 2018 and the Supreme Court has reserved judgement on the case.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=http://www.freepressjournal.in/india/supreme-court-reserves-order-on-judgement-against-ban-on-womens-entry-in-sabarimala-temple/1326248|title=SC reserves order on judgement against ban on women's entry in Sabarimala temple {{!}} Free Press Journal|date=2018-08-01|work=Free Press Journal|access-date=2018-08-10|language=en-GB}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Sabarimala]]
* [[Entry of women to Sabarimala]]
* [[Sabarimala Trek]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Social movements in India]]
[[Category:Internet-based activism]]
[[Category:Hindu movements]]
[[Category:2016 in India]]
[[Category:Protests in India|Protests in India]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Kerala]]
[[Category:Social media campaigns]]
[[Category:Hashtags]]

Ready To Wait campaign - Revision history

KARTIK: added first article w/ infobox!