📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Shivashanky
Religion
BAPS 'Eiffel Tower' row: Rules prohibit contact with women, not removal, says Sanatani
✍️ Bhaskar English
🗓 10 Sep 2026, 10:02 AM
👁 4
A controversy over BAPS’s so‑called ‘Eiffel Tower’ has sparked debate after the sect’s guidelines were interpreted as mandating the removal of women, which a Sanatani clarified actually require staying away.
The Swaminarayan BAPS organization has come under public scrutiny after a structure popularly referred to as the ‘Eiffel Tower’ was linked to a contentious interpretation of its internal code of conduct. Media reports suggested that the sect’s rule demanded the removal of women from the site, prompting criticism from various quarters.
BAPS officials, however, have clarified that the relevant guideline pertains to maintaining a respectful distance between male devotees and women in certain ritual contexts, not to physically expel or remove women from any location. The rule is intended to uphold traditional notions of decorum rather than enforce segregation.
A recognized Sanatani scholar weighed in on the matter, stating that the sect’s directive is about staying away, not about removal. The scholar emphasized that the language of the rule has been misread in social discourse, leading to the current controversy.
The episode has generated discussion on social media platforms, with some users calling for a review of the wording to avoid future misunderstandings, while others defend the traditional interpretation as consistent with the sect’s longstanding practices.
As of now, BAPS has not announced any changes to the policy, and the organization continues to monitor public reaction while reiterating its commitment to its doctrinal principles.
BAPS officials, however, have clarified that the relevant guideline pertains to maintaining a respectful distance between male devotees and women in certain ritual contexts, not to physically expel or remove women from any location. The rule is intended to uphold traditional notions of decorum rather than enforce segregation.
A recognized Sanatani scholar weighed in on the matter, stating that the sect’s directive is about staying away, not about removal. The scholar emphasized that the language of the rule has been misread in social discourse, leading to the current controversy.
The episode has generated discussion on social media platforms, with some users calling for a review of the wording to avoid future misunderstandings, while others defend the traditional interpretation as consistent with the sect’s longstanding practices.
As of now, BAPS has not announced any changes to the policy, and the organization continues to monitor public reaction while reiterating its commitment to its doctrinal principles.