No dress code in temples, says CM Siddaramaiah

BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has opposed the dress code in major temples saying that is not acceptable to do so. Only recently, the Vijayapura district administration had introduced a dress code at the famous Virupaksha templein Hampi.

The CM’s response came after senior litterateur K Marulasiddappa raised questions about the dress code in temples at a event held at the Ravindra Kalakshetra on Wednesday night. “Devotees should be fully clothed, but what is the need to insist on sarees for women and panche for men. This is against democratic values”, the writer said.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah speaking on the dress code issue at the Ravindra Kalakshetra on Wednesday night.

Later, addressing the gathering, the CM said the Hindu Religious Institutions And Charitable Endowments Department has not made the dress code mandatory. “It is not right to prescribe a certain type of dress. People can’t be told to not wear shirts and pant, and to wear sarees. We are not insisting on any type of dress or we are not asking people to take off their clothes”, he said.

Further, CM Siddaramaiah said people should visit temple with a clean mind. “What is the use if you are wearing proper clothes, but don’t have faith?” he questioned. On the Virupaksha temple issue, he said it was the decision of the district administration and not of the Endowment department.

Speaking to Public TV, Endowment Minister Ramalinga Reddy said the CM did not speak either in favour or against a dress code. “For hundreds of years, people have been visiting temples and there are private ones too. People wear panche (mundu) at Mantralaya and Dharmasthala. As of now, there is no dress code in any of the Muzrai temples”, he said.

Endowment Minister Ramalinga Reddy said there is no proposal before the government to introduce a dress code at temples under the department.

On the Hampi Virupaksha temple issue, Reddy said, “There are many foreign visitors at Hampi and they come in shorts and bermudas to the temple. Hence, the district deputy commissioner introduced a dress code. There is no proposal of introducing a dress code before the government. If the temple trusts place a proposal, we will consider it”.

The minister pointed out that it is difficult to introduce a dress code where a large number of devotees visit. “Lakhs of people visit the Yellamma Gudda fair and Chamundi Hills in Mysuru”, he pointed out. To a question on whether it would be accepted if other districts too follow the Vijayanagar district administration, he said, “We will see later. As of now, there is no such plan”.