Odisha: Decency code for Puri Jagannath Temple devotees sparks row over moral policing

News : 11.10.2023
Puri Shree Jagannath Temple Administration’s (Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration) decision to impose a decency code for the devotees from January 1 has evoked sharp reactions, triggering a debate on moral policing.

The temple administration asked the devotees to come wearing appropriate and decent clothes and avoid distasteful attire. Many people have questioned the temple administration’s authority to impose such a code which amounts to moral policing.

Chief administrator of (Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration), Ranjan Kumar Das, told The Telegraph: “We are not implementing any dress code. But we have objections to devotees wearing tattered jeans, short pants, and flashy and sleeveless clothes. They should not wear clothes like shorts, ripped jeans and skirts and expose their body parts here on the temple premises. There are a number of parks, hotels and pubs in Puri where they can go wearing any dress. But we need to maintain the purity and sanctity of the temple premises. We wear dhoti, kurta, sari or salwar. But they should properly wear it.”