Puri, Jan 1 – In a bid to preserve the sanctity of the revered Shree Jagannath Temple, the temple administration has implemented a mandatory dress code for devotees starting January 1, 2024. Additionally, a complete ban on chewing gutkha and pan within the temple premises, along with the prohibition of plastic and polythene usage, has been enforced.
Devotees seeking entry into the 12th-century shrine are now required to wear “decent clothes,” with restrictions on attire such as half pants, shorts, torn jeans, skirts, and sleeveless dresses. The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) issued this directive, and the police have been instructed to ensure its implementation.
On the inaugural day of the new year, male devotees were observed wearing traditional dhotis and towels, while women chose sarees or salwar kameez, adhering to the newly imposed dress code. The move is aimed at upholding the sacred atmosphere of the temple.
The SJTA official highlighted that the ban on gutkha and pan is crucial for maintaining the sanctity of the temple. Violators of these restrictions are subject to fines. The authorities have already taken measures to enforce these regulations.
As devotees flocked to the temple on New Year’s day, the doors reopened at 1.40 am. Over 180,000 devotees visited @JagannathaDhaam by noon, as the police ensured a hassle-free darshan experience. Special arrangements were made for the convenience of specially-abled devotees.
To accommodate the increased footfall, an air-conditioned tensile fabric structure was set up outside the temple, equipped with CCTV cameras, public announcement systems, drinking water facilities, and public toilets. Inspector General of Police, Ashish Kumar Singh, reported that the darshan, which commenced at 1.40 am, proceeded smoothly with no reported issues.
Traffic restrictions were imposed in the town for New Year’s Day, with designated ‘no vehicle zones’ to facilitate the movement of devotees. Similar measures have been adopted at the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, where the consumption of pan and tobacco products, along with plastic and polythene usage, has been banned from January 1.
