Give 4 dhotis to follow dress code: Temple staff

The Tamil Nadu Thirukovil Paniyalargal Sangam (association of temple employees) plan to request the state government to provide approximately 40,000 staff in 34,638 temples with four dhotis each to adhere to the new dress code which is to be implemented in the State from Jan 1, according to the Association president, V Easwaran.

This follows the High Court ruling that a dress code should be followed in temples. While each temple has a code of its own, it has never been insisted upon, at least in the lesser known shrines. Temples at Suchindram, Chidambaram and Tiruchendur have rules which ensure that men are bare above the waist. This is adhered to as these are famous. But lesser known temples are not too strict about it. 

At the Parthasarathyswamy temple at Triplicane, the 35 staff including HR & CE Deputy commissioner have started coming to work in traditional attire. The temple’s chief bhattar (priest) Balaji said “arrangements are being made to provide the 35 staff 2 dhotis from temple funds.” CV Vaidyalingam, in charge of preparing prasad in various temples, including the Parthasarathyswamy temple, Dhandayuthapani temple, Palani and Jambukeswarar temple at Thiurvanaikoil near Trichy said, “We always wear traditional attire when preparing the prasadam as western garments hinder movement.”

Women workers seem to have no issues as they are usually wear saris, while young women come in churidars. Sharadha (name changed), a woman constable on duty at the temple, said, “This is my uniform and without this, we will not be respected or even recognised as policewomen.”