A dress code has been implemented at Jagannath temple in Puri, Odisha, requiring devotees to wear “decent clothes” that are not revealing. People wearing half-plants, shorts, ripped jeans, skirts, and sleeveless dresses will not be allowed entry. Men are seen entering the temple wearing dhotis and ‘gamchas’, while women wear sarees or salwar kameez.
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has urged hotels to promote dress code awareness, as most devotees visit the temple. The SJTA has also increased vigilance on chewing gutkha and pan inside the temple and banned the use of plastic bags.
The Jagannath Puri Temple will not accept visitors dressed in “indecent” attire
Devotees wearing “indecent” clothing, including torn jeans, sleeveless t-shirts, and other improper apparel, would not be permitted entry into the Jagannath Temple in Puri as of January 1, according to a statement released by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA). In a TOI story, the SJTA stressed how important it is to dress appropriately when praying to the gods.
However, Recall that the SJTA advised persons who worship the gods to wear the most modest attire imaginable. While there isn’t a formal dress standard in place, the SJTA encourages followers to enter the temple dressed appropriately and with respect. “The temple is not a park or a beach,” Chief Administrator Ranjan Kumar Das stated to TOI. It is expected of believers to abstain from wearing obscene clothing. We plan to limit entrance for anyone detected wearing such clothing as of January 1.
Diverse opinions are generated by SJTA’s modest clothing requirement at Puri Srimandir
The Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has announced a restriction on the entry of indecently-clad devotees into Srimandir. Devotees are now in a dilemma regarding the appropriate dress code for male, female, and child devotees. Daitapati Nijog secretary Ramakrishna Das Mohapatra has informed that male devotees can wear traditional attire, pants and shirt, while female devotees can wear sarees and salwar suits.
However, Children below 12 years old can wear half pants. However, those wearing half-pants, ripped jeans, and sleeveless shirts will not be allowed into the shrine. Servitors have demanded cloakroom and changing room facilities near all four gates of the temple to allow easy clothing change before entering. Senior servitor Binayak Das Mohapatra and Hajuri Krushnachandra Khuntia have been writing letters to the SJTA for the last six years to raise awareness about the issue.
While devotees are welcomed the move, some intellectuals are opposed, fearing that if a devotee is debarred from entering the shrine, they will challenge the decision in court. The rates of Mahaprasad are yet to be finalized, and the ban on mobile phones inside the temple is not yet strictly implemented.
