Haridwar Temples Ban Western Clothes, ‘80% Of The Body Should Be Covered’

New Delhi: Temples in Haridwar will not allow devotees dressed in western clothes on their premises. The top priest of a religious organisation said exposing any part of the body was unacceptable in Indian culture and, in fact, temples down south also had a rule against short clothes. The temples at the pilgrimage town in Uttarakhand were only taking this tradition forward.

Once the ban is implemented, there will be no entry into temples for those wearing western dress or short clothes – be it men, women, boys or girls even if it means using force.

Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad president Ravindra Puri said exposing parts of the body was not considered good in Indian culture, due to which there is already a ban on wearing short clothes in the temples of South India. While taking forward this religious tradition, an appeal has been made to sisters, daughters and mothers who come to the temples of Haridwar, according to a report in News18.

The mahant said temples were places for self-enrichment and spiritual upliftment and not for entertainment, so appropriate clothing must be worn for darshan. Devotees should have 80 per cent of their body covered when visiting temples here, he added.

“As per Indian culture, 80 percent of the body should be covered. That is why we have appealed to young men and women coming to temples that they should come with 80 percent of the body covered or they won’t be allowed to enter. There is one more reason to apply this dress code. Whenever we perform any religious ritual like worship, hawan, yagya or anointment, our clothes should be of Indian tradition. This decision has been welcomed by all sections of people,” Puri was quoted as saying.

Puri further said the dress code will be applied with force if needed. He said major political parties in Uttarakhand have welcomed the appeal. Devotees at the temple were also consulted and gave their consent.

Answering questions on clothing such as jeans and if a person’s body is appropriately covered, the mahant said he was not averse to those wearing jeans but they should cover the body appropriately. But it was not advisable to wear it as it made people uncomfortable during long prayer ceremonies, he added. He further said dhoti-kurta or other Indian outfits will prove to be more comfortable and the person will feel relaxed during the ceremony.