Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Sep 26: The state government has undertaken an initiative to enforce dress code in temples falling under the jurisdiction of its muzrai department.

The department is actively considering this proposal as it has of late been observed that devotees visiting the temples come dressed in various attires like jeans trousers, Bermudas, T-shirt and such other modern dresses. As per information received, the government wants to bring an ammendment to Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, making it mandatory for women visitors to wear either sari or Salwar Kameez and men to wear white dhotis.

States like Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have enforced rules about dresses which are permissible inside their temples. The initiative in the state to make similar rules is under discussion now.

As per the current indication, the government wants to enforce dress code in about 34,000 temples grouped in category A, B and C functioning under muzrai department from January 1, 2018 onward. Officials of the department have already held consultations and discussions with managing committees of the temples, and it is said that most of the temples have favoured enforcement of dress code.

There were some complaints that devotees who come to temples seeking peaceful and spiritual atmosphere inside the temples get disturbed at the sight of visitors dressed in strange, gaudy clothes which do not match the tranquil atmosphere one seeks. Temples are centres of devotion and faith, and peaceful atmosphere and discipline support this notion. Therefore,muzrai department officials feel that prescribing dress code for temple visitors is the need of the hour.