Karnataka: Vishwa Hindu Parishad demands dress code at Kukke Subrahmanya Temple

MANGALURU: Devotees visiting Kukke Subrahmanya Temple in Dakshina Kannada district will have to wear only ‘traditional Hindu dress’ if the state government accedes to a demand for the same from Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal.
In a memorandum to Karnataka’s richest muzrai temple, the right-wing organisations have asked the authorities to implement the dress code followed in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu temples.They have also urged district and muzrai minister Kota Srinivas Poojari to implement this dress code in all staterun temples.
“We have forwarded VHP’s letter to the muzrai department. A temple committee or executive officer cannot impose any dress code on devotees. The decision has to be taken by the state government,” said Kukke temple executive officer Ravindra MH on Wednesday.
Dress code row not new to Karnataka temples
Devotees should wear Hindu traditional dresses or stick to ethnic wear when they are visiting temples. At Kukke temple, we have seen devotees wearing jeans, t-shirts, half pants and even night pants,” said Sharan Kumar, Vishwa Hindu Parishad division secretary, Mangaluru.
“This is not allowed in temples in other southern states. In Karnataka, only private temples have a dress code. We request the government to implement a dress code in Muzrai temples,” Sharan Kumar added.
Debate over introducing a dress code in muzrai temples in Karnataka is not new.
Three years ago, Karnataka Rajya Dharmika Parishat, a quasi-judicial body formed by the government, failed in its attempt to enforce a dress code in endowment temples.