To maintain decorum and sanctity, most shrines in Ponda have decided to strictly impose dress codes for visitors from January 1. The temples will stop those wearing shorts, miniskirts, midis, sleeveless tops, low-rise jeans, and short T-shirts. Temple committees will provide “uparne” (covering for the torso) and “lungi” to those not dressed appropriately. Vallabh Kuncoliencar, the president of Shree Ramnath Devasthan, Ponda, said that the dress code will be stringently imposed from January 1. Shri Manguesh Devasthan has also decided to strictly implement the dress code at the temple from the New Year.
Visitors can wear uparne and lungi over their clothes before entering temples. Vallabh Kuncoliencar , the president of Shree Ramnath Devasthan , Ponda, told TOI that the dress code will be stringently imposed from January 1. “We have already put up the dress-code advisory on the notice board at the temple premises,” he said.
Kuncoliencar said that the focus is on educating tourists. “Often, tourists are dressed inappropriately. To preserve the sanctity of the temple, the decision was taken at the general body meeting to adhere to the dress code,” Kuncoliencar said. “We will educate the tourists and slowly bring about a change.”
Kuncoliencar said that children below 10 are exempt from the dress code. “Adults should follow the dress code. We will not stop anyone from entering the temple,” he said. “But we will provide uparne and lungi to tourists who are not dressed properly to visit a temple.”
Shri Manguesh Devasthan was one of the few temples to take such a decision almost a decade ago. It has also decided to strictly implement the dress code at the temple from the New Year.
Ajit Kantak, the president of Shri Manguesh Devasthan, said that though a dress code was prescribed earlier, the monitoring was not strict. “Now, we have decided to strictly implement the dress code at the temple from the New Year,” he said.
Kantak said that some women visit the temple in clothes that irk other devotees. “At present, we provide a shawl and a lungi to tourists,” he said. “A temple is not a place for a fashion show or an exhibition. It is a place for worship and meditation.”
Tourists visiting the temple should wear Indian attire, Kantak said.
Source : The Times of India
