No darshan at Tirupati for those in Jeans, Skirts, T-Shirts.

The Tirumala temple

Hyderabad: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has decided to introduce and strictly enforce a dress code for devotees seeking darshan of Lord Venkateswara. Before enforcing it in two months, it will sensitize the devotees about this.The TTD is uncomfortable with devotees lining up for darshan in tight and short dresses, jeans, and such modern wear. It wants them to wear traditional dresses – saris and chudidars for girls and women, and dhotis or simple, not fancy trousers and shirts for men.


7-year-old proposal

In 2003 during the N Chandrababu Naidu regime, the TTD made traditional dress mandatory for those seeking to take part in rituals.

The proposal to enforce the same dress code for all devotees - including those seeking darshan - arose at the same time and the Trust Board chaired by P Chalapathi Rao decided to enforce it in a phased manner.

TTD executive officer IYR Krishna Rao said the decision to enforce dress code was not a new one.

“We will educate the devotees for two months from now before strictly enforcing the code”, he said.

He added that he had received complaints from several orthodox devotees that they were feeling uncomfortable with others wearing western wear.

Interestingly, the Balaji temple at Chilukur on the outskirts o f Hyderabad has a dress code, which includes handloom wear on Saturdays.