Mansa Devi temple: Devotees disapprove of ‘no shorts’ remark

Amit Bathla

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, August 21

After an official of the Mansa Devi temple administration stated in the media that verbal directions had been issued for allowing no entry of devotees wearing shorts and other “modern clothes” to the shrine, young devotees have disapproved of her statement.

Namita, a regular visitor to the temple, says it’s the belief what matters when you are visiting a temple or any other religious place, not clothes. ‘’Any such instructions will only lead to a reduction in the number of young devotees visiting the temple,’’ she added.

Ananya, who came from Delhi, says God doesn’t see the way one is dressed, but only considers good faith.

The 21-year-old, who studies in Delhi University, says such directions are “socially unacceptable” and reflect ‘’regressive thinking’’.

The temple administration has also distanced itself from the statement given by Secretary of Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board Sharda Prajapati.

The Deputy Commissioner-cum-Chief Administrator of the shrine board, Vinay Pratap Singh, rejected the statement, calling it her ‘’personal remarks.’’ He clarified that they had not issued any order in this regard.

Recently, Prajapati had stated they had instructed the Home Guards staff deployed at the historical temple to not allow devotees wearing shorts and other “indecent clothes’’ to enter the shrine.

Prajapati said the move was taken in view of complaints received by the administration from devotees, especially the elderly, that decency should be maintained on the temple premises.

She had also urged devotees to not wear short dresses while coming to the temple keeping in mind the sanctity of the shrine and respect towards the religion and culture. Prajapati had added: “Those who wear such types of clothes inside temples, it may not affect them. Not everyone has the same mentality. Many who come to the temple have submitted their complaints to us objecting to short dresses inside the shrine.’’

“Children should respect the culture. In gurdwaras, visitors even cover their head before entering the premises,” she had said in her statement.

Meanwhile, while talking to The Tribune over the phone, Prajapati said: “So far, no official guidelines have come out for the implementation of the dress code. Only verbal instructions have been issued to the security personnel to guide devotees to maintain decent dressing before entering the temple.” “We will act according to the instructions received from the state government,” she added.