No short clothes, selfies: Prayagraj temple enforces strict rules for devotees
A dress code introduced last year at the ancient Mankameshwar Temple on the banks of the Yamuna in Prayagraj, on the lines of Ujjain's Mahakaleshwar
A dress code introduced last year at the ancient Mankameshwar Temple on the banks of the Yamuna in Prayagraj, on the lines of Ujjain's Mahakaleshwar Temple, will remain in force during the upcoming Shravan month beginning on 30 July. The temple administration has said the rules will continue for devotees visiting the shrine during the period. Under the guidelines, women and young girls wearing short or revealing clothes will not be allowed to enter the temple, while men have also been asked to wear modest attire. Devotees performing Rudrabhishek during Shravan will have to follow a separate dress code and will be allowed to perform the ritual only in traditional Indian attire. Read Full Story The temple administration has put up notice boards across the premises listing the rules for devotees.
The notices say the temple is a sacred place of worship and meditation, and visitors must enter with devotion and in appropriate clothing. Women have been advised to wear modest clothes that fully cover the body, and those arriving in short or revealing outfits will be denied entry. Men have similarly been instructed to wear decent clothes while visiting the shrine. The notices also advise devotees not to wear excessive gold and silver jewellery because of the risk of theft. Other instructions ask devotees not to stay near the Shivling for a long time after offering prayers and to leave the sanctum promptly after completing rituals. The temple has also banned selfies and photography inside the premises. The use of polythene and plastic has been prohibited, including for offering water or performing abhishek with plastic cups.
The administration has said such offerings do not carry any religious merit. Smoking and the consumption of gutka and pan masala have also been prohibited, and devotees have been urged to help maintain cleanliness inside the temple. Under the dress code for Rudrabhishek during Shravan, men must wear a dhoti, while women must wear either a saree or a salwar suit. Temple head priest Brahmachari Shri Dharanand said devotees at Mankameshwar Temple, also known as Kameshwar Tirth on the banks of the Yamuna, will now be allowed to perform Rudrabhishek only in traditional Indian attire. He said the decision had been taken to encourage devotees to dress modestly in Indian clothing so that worshippers remain focused during prayers without distraction and can perform rituals with complete devotion.
The BriefWire