Servitors, hoteliers to sensitise tourists, devotees on dress code for entry to Jagannath temple

Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has issued an advisory, seeking cooperation of servitors and hoteliers for smooth implementation of its ‘decent’ dress code for devotees’ decision.

From January 1 next year, those wearing half-pants, shorts, torn jeans, skirts and sleeveless dresses will not be allowed entry into Jagannath Temple in the pilgrim town of Puri.

“We have not prescribed any illustrative dress code for devotees. We leave it to the conscience of devotees to wear decent and appropriate clothes. The awareness campaign will continue till December 31 this year. Stringent measures may be taken at all gates of the temple to enforce it in letter and spirit from January 1, 2024,” read the advisory issued by SJTA’s chief administrator Ranjan Kumar Das.

It further urged hotel associations to spread awareness about the decent dress code among tourists and devotees, who stay in hotels and guest houses. “We request you to educate your staff, tourist guides and yatri pandas on the issue,” it added.

Since many devotees of different states have their family pandas (priests) at the Jagannath Temple, all Nijogs (associations of servitors) have been asked to sensitise their guests about the decision.

The advisory added that several religious shrines in the country have their own dress codes for devotees to maintain sanctity of the spiritual places and there have been demands from different quarters to introduce the same in the Puri temple.