Chennai: The New Year will see the restoration of ‘tradition’ among devotees visiting the temples. Devotees visiting temples will have to follow a dress code from January 1.
Men should wear a “dhoti or pyjama with upper cloth or formal pants and shirts” to temples and women should wear “a sari or a half sari or churidhar with upper cloth” while children could wear “any fully covered dress” in compliance with the latest circular of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department. The new order follows recent direction by the Madras high court bench.
Several temples in the city and across the state have put up notice boards advising devotees to adhere to the dress code. Those wearing lungi, bermudas, jeans and tight-leggings would not be allowed.
Meanwhile, the temples are all geared up to usher in the New Year. Elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure hassle free darshan to the devotees. At the Lord Venkateswara Temple at the TTD Information Centre, T. Nagar, in the city, the administration has decided to keep the temple open throughout the day from 3.30 am to 10 pm with two breaks in-between.
On Thursday morning, the Thiruppavada Seva was performed with tamarind rice. A huge quantity of Pulihora – tamarind rice was poured on a large rectangular tub and offered as naivedya to the Lord. This followed a darshan of the Lord’s eyes - Netra Darshan, following the removal of the huge Namam which adorns the Lord’s forehead but covers almost half of His eyes.
