Jabalpur: Hindu Seva Parisad places posters in temples requesting devotees to wear 'appropriate attire.'

Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) [India], October 3: With the festival of Shardiya Navratri beginning on Thursday, a Hindu organization in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur district, 'Hindu Seva Parishad,' has put up posters at several temples in the district, urging people to visit temples only in decent clothing.

The poster specifically mentions that women should be mindful of their attire and requests them to wear traditional clothes such as sarees and salwar suits.

“All women and men should visit the temple in decent clothes only. Do not enter the temple wearing indecent clothing like shorts, half pants, Bermuda, night suits, mini skirts, ripped jeans, and crop tops. Women, in particular, should wear ideal clothes like sarees and salwar suits,” the poster states.

City Vice President of Hindu Seva Parishad, Nitin Sonpali, said, “Our organization has always been a protector of Sanatan culture. Navratri has started today, and the next nine days are dedicated to the worship of Maa Durga. However, some people visit temples in inappropriate clothing, exposing body parts. As a result, we have issued guidelines for everyone—whether men or women—not to wear indecent clothes like ripped jeans, Bermudas, and shorts.”

“Since it is a temple and not a fashion spot, we will not tolerate it at all. This is both a request and a warning. Women who visit the temple have been supportive of this move and are becoming aware of the need for proper attire,” Sonpali added.

Shri Lal Mishra, the priest of Mahakali temple in Sadar locality, also supported the initiative, saying it was appropriate and that he had enforced similar rules four or five years ago.

Additionally, women visiting the temples expressed their approval of the posters, noting that everyone should visit the temple dressed in respectable clothing, following traditional norms.

On the first day of Shardiya Navratri, people across the state are visiting temples and offering prayers.

Shardiya Navratri is a vibrant and sacred Hindu festival that spans nine nights, celebrating the divine feminine energy embodied by Goddess Durga. Observed in the lunar month of Ashwin, the festival involves worship, rituals, and cultural performances. Each day is dedicated to a different form of the goddess, symbolizing strength, compassion, and wisdom. Devotees engage in fasting, devotional singing, and traditional dances like Garba and Dandiya, creating a festive atmosphere.