Varanasi: No formal decision on dress code for Kashi Vishwanath Temple yet

Recently, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple administration implemented a new dress code that was supposed to apply on those willing to perform the sparsha darshan. The administration, however, revoked the code a day later.

Reportedly, the dress code stated that wearing jeans and t-shirts will not be allowed to touch the Jytorlinga, and will be allowed to worship the deity only from a distance.
As per the latest reports, UP Minister of State for Religious Affairs and Tourism Dr Neelkanth Tiwari, who recently chaired the meeting, sought suggestions from the Parishad members to extend the time allotted for sparsha darshan to facilitate more devotees to touch the Jyotirlinga. Professor Ramchandra Pandey and other Parishad members unanimously stated that the time be extended till 11 AM.
Implementing dress code for doing sparsha darshan was also suggested in this meeting, after which dhoti and kurta was fixed as attire for the male devotees and saree was fixed for the female devotees willing to touch the Jyotirlinga. Along with this, the Parishad members also suggested fixing a dress code for the priests offering prayers at the temple.
Referring to this, CEO of Kashi Vishwanath Temple Vishal Singh said that any decision regarding any dress code for sparsha darshan, will be taken after consulting the youths, saints, and other sections of the society. When asked about revoking the decision, he stated that initially it was decided to implement the suggestions of the scholars; later, the member of the KV Temple Trust and Minister Neelkanth Tiwari asked them to seek the opinion of other stakeholders before making the decision.

Referring to the new dress code, the Minister also tweeted that as of now, scholars has only put forward their suggestions and that no such decision has been made.