Padmanabhaswamy temple relaxes dress code for women

The Kerala High Court had recently disposed of a petition seeking permission to allow women to wear salwars and churidars inside the temple after directing the Executive officer to decide within 30 days on the matter. Devotees from all over the country visit the shrine throughout the year and had been wanting a change in the dress code. “Keralites have also wanted this saying it was more convenient, there is no justification for wearing a mundu on top of the salwars or churidars. It is a mockery,” Sateesh said. He also said he had received several letters from IAS officers, doctors and from ordinary persons also seeking permission to be allowed to wear churidars as it was a ‘decent and dignified dress’. Salwar kameez and churidars were being allowed as it was a traditional Indian attire, he said, adding, however, jeans, tights and such other dresses will not be permitted. 

Meanwhile, the temple’s senior Tantri (priest) Nedumpilli Tharanalloor Parameshwaran Namboodiripad has voiced opposition to allowing women to wear salwar and churidar, saying it was against customs and age old traditions of the shrine. The present dress code should continue, he informed the Administrative Committee and Executive officer, temple sources said. The Administrative Committee has also said that the present dress code should be continued.