Dress code applicable in 71 temples of Pune district

It has been decided to implement a dress code in 71 temples including Jyotirling Shrikshetra Bhimashankar in Pune district. Due to this, the dress code has been implemented in about 528 temples in the state of Maharashtra, informed Sunil Ghanwat, state coordinator of the Maharashtra Temple Federation on Friday.

On this occasion, Parag Gokhale, Pune District Coordinator of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Chorghe Maharaj, Pune District Convener of Maharashtra Temple Federation, Sangeeta Thakar, Trustee of Village Deity Shri Kasba Ganpati Temple, Advocate Mangesh Jejurikar, Trustee of Karhe Pathar Khandoba Temple Devotion, Nand Kumar Angal of Chatushringi Devotion, Sagar Tupe, Secretary of Tukai Devotion at Hadapsar etc were present.

Like Pune, this dress code has already been implemented in temples in many districts like Nagpur, Amravati, Jalgaon, Ahilyanagar, Mumbai, Thane, Satara, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Solapur, Kolhapur. Other religious places of worship, colleges, courts, police stations etc. follow the dress code. Ghanvat said that this decision was taken in the meeting of the federation on the same lines.

The people present said that there was opposition to enforcing the dress code in the Tuljapur temple. But after that, the dress code was implemented in 528 temples in the state of Maharashtra through the Maharashtra Temple Federation. Some opposed it. But going to temples for darshan of God in loose clothes or in non-conventional attire cannot be personal freedom. Everyone has the freedom to choose what to wear at home and in public.

But a temple is a religious place. There should be conduct according to righteousness. There, not individual freedom, but religion is important. The temple trustees have taken this decision considering all these so that henceforth the sanctity of the temples will remain intact and it will help in preserving the culture.

This code will be applicable in 71 temples like village deity Kasba Ganapati, Chattushringi, Khandoba temple of Jejuri, Bhuleshwar Mahadev, Kshetra Kanifnath Gad, Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Devasthan, Baneshwar Mahadev Narsapur etc. The devotees have welcomed the code, and those present also explained that we will also provide the facility of providing clothes if someone comes in dirty clothes unintentionally.