The centuries-old Padmanabha Swamy temple today decided to relax its dress code for women, permitting devotees to wear the traditional Indian salwar kameez and churidar while worshipping at the shrine but the temple’s senior Tantri (priest) has voiced opposition to the decision.
Earlier, women devotees had to wear a ‘mundu’ (dhoti) over their waist if they were attired in salwars and churidars before entering the famous shrine, considered the richest Hindu temple in the world.
“A decision was taken today to allow women to wear salwar kameez and churidars..from this evening itself, devotees can offer worship wearing salwars and churidars,” Temple Executive officer K N Sateesh told PTI.
The Kerala High Court had recently disposed of a petition seeking permission to allow women to wear salwars and churidars inside the temple after directing the Executive officer to decide within 30 days on the matter.
Sateesh said he had received mails and mass petitions from devotees, especially women, seeking a direction to temple authorities to permit wearing of salwar kameez and churidars inside the shrine.
Devotees from all over the country visit the shrine throughout the year and had been wanting a change in the dress code. “Keralites have also wanted this saying it was more convenient..there is no justification for wearing a mundu on top of the salwars or churidars. It is a mockery,” he said.
