Puri Jagannath Temple makes dress code mandatory for devotees

On Monday, the administration of Shree Jagannath Temple enforced the dress code for visitors to the shrine, which dates back to the 12th century.

On the grounds of the shrine, it also outlawed the use of plastic and polythene, as well as the chewing of pan and gutkha starting on January 1, 2024.

According to an SJTA representative, visitors must dress in “decent clothes” to enter the shrine. The temple will not admit devotees dressed in shorts, ripped jeans, skirts, sleeveless dresses, or half-pants.

When the rule went into effect, male devotees were seen arriving at the temple on January 1st, 2024, dressed in dhotis and towels, while women were dressed in salwar kameez or sarees.

The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) had earlier issued an order to the effect and the police were asked to enforce the restrictions.

According to the official, the temple’s sanctity is being preserved by prohibiting gutkha and pan within its grounds. He said that there are fines for those who disobey the restriction.

On New Year’s Day, a sizable throng of devotees descended upon the seaside pilgrimage city to receive a darshan of Lord Jagannath. At 1.40 am, the temple doors were reopened to the worshippers who had gathered at the Grand Road in front of it.

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“More than 1,80,000 devotees have visited @JagannathaDhaam till noon (on Monday). Along with ensuring hassle-free darshan, police are ensuring the facilitation of specially-abled devotees,” Puri police Samarth Verma said in an X post.

The SJTA and police have made elaborate arrangements for smooth darshan by the devotees. An air-conditioned tensile fabric structure built outside the temple was made functional for devotees from Monday morning.

Facilities such as drinking water and public toilets have been made available at the structure, which has also been equipped with CCTV cameras and a public announcement system. Sitting arrangements have also been provided in them.

Inspector general of police of Central Range, Ashish Kumar Singh said “Nearly more than double the number of devotees compared to the same day last year have already visited the temple today. The darshan (of deities) began early at 1.40 am and is still going on. The darshan was halted for some time to hold the rituals connected with the deities.”

There have been no hitches as yet and the devotees are entering the temple through the AC shed. Special arrangements have been made for senior citizens and people with disabilities. After visiting the temple, the devotees are exiting through the north gate, Singh added.

Traffic restrictions have been imposed in the town for New Year’s Day. The area between Market Chakka to Singhadwara (main gate) on Badadanda has been declared a ‘no vehicle zone’, while vehicles have been banned on the beachside road from Digabareni to the lighthouse, officials said.

Consumption of pan and tobacco products has also been banned inside the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar from Monday.

Devotees found chewing tobacco or betel leaves are not allowed to enter the premises of the 11th-century Shiva temple. The use of polythene and plastics has also been banned in the temple as decided by the Lingaraj Temple Trust Board