Dress Code Tightened At the Temples of Tamil Nadu in South India

Starting in January 2016, travelers to the temples of Tamil Nadu in South India are expected to follow a prescribed dress code.  

According to a court order issued last month in Tamil Nadu, jeans and t-shirts that are considered to be normal attire for Western tourists will not be accepted as appropriate attire for entering temples in Tamil Nadu. Both local worshippers and foreign travelers are expected to follow the dress code; otherwise, they will be denied entry.

Men are expected to wear a dhoti, a traditional long lower garment, or pyjama (two-piece garment) with upper cloth or formal shirts and trousers. Women are expected to wear sarees or half sarees with blouse, churidhars (light loose trousers) with upper cloth. Children should wear fully-covered dress.

According to Odyssey local staff in India, there is already a dress code being followed in the temples of Madura which requires visitors to have their arms and legs fully covered. Visitors to the Kapaleeswarar and Parthasarathy temples in Chennai and the famous Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram were told to adhere to the norms on their next visit.