Jagannath Puri To Implement Dress Code For Devotees From 1 January; Shorts, Ripped Jeans Prohibited

Starting from 1 January of the upcoming year, visitors to the Jagannath temple in Puri will be required to adhere to a new dress code, announced a senior temple official on Monday (9 October).

Emulating the dress code already implemented for temple servitors in October 2021, this regulation aims to uphold traditional attire standards within the sacred space.

Chief administrator Ranjan Kumar Das of the Sree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) emphasised the importance of devotees wearing traditional clothing during their temple visits.

Prohibited items include shorts, ripped jeans, and skirts, Hindustan Times reported. This measure aligns with similar dress codes adopted in various shrines across the country.

A subsequent announcement revealed that awareness campaigns would start on Tuesday, urging devotees to wear "decent clothes."

To monitor compliance, both the Jagannath temple police and temple servitors will keep a close eye on anyone violating the specified attire guidelines.

This decision follows the implementation of a dress code for temple servitors from 20 October 2021, requiring them to wear dhoti, towel, and patta during puja ceremonies.

Highlighting the need for this dress code, a second temple official mentioned that the Daitapati Nijog, a servitor's body in Puri Srimandir, had been advocating for such regulations.

The Nijog expressed concern about devotees wearing Western attire, particularly shorts, which they deemed disrespectful to religious sentiments. The demand includes a provision for devotees in western attire to change into traditional clothing before entering the temple premises.

Senior servitor Binayak Dasmohapatra emphasised the significance of maintaining the spiritual and sanctified atmosphere of the Puri Jagannath temple, a revered religious site among the four dhams. He cited the example of several temples in South India where women devotees wear salwar and saree as part of their customary attire.