Vrindavan, Aug 11 — Saints and religious leaders on Tuesday welcomed the decision of the ISKCON Temple in Vrindavan to enforce a dress code for devotees, describing it as a step towards preserving Sanatan traditions, cultural decorum, and the sanctity of temple premises.
The management of the ISKCON Temple in Vrindavan, one of the most revered religious destinations associated with Lord Krishna, has made modest clothing mandatory for devotees visiting the temple. The wearing of short or immodest attire has been strictly prohibited. To ensure compliance, the temple administration has installed notice boards at the entrance gates outlining the dress code and other guidelines for visitors, including photography.
Reacting to the decision, President of the Ramadal Trust, Kalki Ram, said that a dress code should be implemented in temples as it is often observed that some people visit places of worship in attire that does not conform to standards of decency.
“A dress code should be implemented because it is often seen that people come to temples wearing clothes that violate decency. However, along with this, the ISKCON Temple also needs to make extensive improvements in its working system. On one hand, they provide devotees with the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, and on the other hand, they put a manjira in their hands,” he told IANS.
Sant Satyendra Das Vedanti also welcomed the move and suggested that similar guidelines should be adopted across the country.
“It is a very good decision. It should be implemented across the entire country in all temples and monasteries wherever such an arrangement is possible. Considering the various forms of impurity and indecency spreading in society today, implementing such a measure would be beneficial,” he said.
Mahant Nirmal Giri of Kailash Temple said that decent and culturally appropriate attire has always been an important part of Sanatan traditions.
“According to our tradition, when a devotee visits a temple, they should do so in a dignified and cultured manner. My view is that whenever one visits a temple or any religious place, special attention should be paid to clothing and conduct,” he said.
Vrindavan, located in Uttar Pradesh, is one of Hinduism’s most sacred towns. Believed to be the place where Lord Krishna spent his childhood, it is home to several renowned temples dedicated to Krishna and Radha, attracting millions of devotees from across India and abroad every year.