Puri: The Jagannath Temple in Puri, one of the most revered Hindu shrines in India, has announced a new dress code for its visitors, starting from January 1, 2024. The temple administration has decided to implement this rule to maintain the dignity and sanctity of the temple and to respect the religious sentiments of the devotees.
According to the new dress code, visitors will not be allowed to enter the temple wearing shorts, torn jeans, skirts, sleeveless clothes, or any other attire that is deemed inappropriate or indecent. The temple administration has said that such clothes are suitable for beaches or parks, but not for a holy place where God resides.
The temple administration has also said that the dress code is not a new concept, as many other temples in the country have similar rules. The dress code is meant to foster a sense of reverence and devotion among the visitors and to avoid any disturbance or offense to other worshippers.
The temple administration has entrusted the responsibility of enforcing the dress code to the security personnel posted at the lion gate of the temple and the Pratihari servants inside the temple. They will keep a strict vigil on the visitors and ask them to change their clothes or leave if they do not comply with the dress code.
The Jagannath Temple in Puri is a 12th-century temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath, a form of Vishnu, along with his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra. The temple is famous for its annual Ratha Yatra, or chariot festival, in which the three deities are pulled on huge and elaborately decorated temple cars. The temple is one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites for Hindus.
