Dress Code for Jagannath Puri Devotees Comes Into Force on New Year’s Day

By Rupanjal Chauhan: The administration of Shree Jagannath Puri issued guidelines on Monday, prohibiting specific clothing and substances for devotees seeking entry into the ancient shrine from 1st January 2024. 

The devotees are necessitated to wear “decent clothes” to enter the shrine. Devotees wearing half-pants, shorts, ripped jeans, skirts, and sleeveless dresses will be restricted from entering the temple as strict vigil will be maintained.  Moreover, chewing tobacco and pan along with plastic usage will also be prohibited on the shrine premises.  

Post ban, male devotees are seen wearing dhoti and towels while women are in either sarees or salwar kameez as they come for blessings on New Year’s Day.  

Furthermore, the Odisha government has built an 85-meter shaded pathway with ACs, fans, CCTVs, and seating facilities for devotees’ comfort. The modification resulted from the criticism faced by the Puri administration recently over the poor queue management and Darshan system.