The Hindu : TTD may insist on `traditional dress' for devotees

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 17, 2002

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TTD may insist on `traditional dress' for devotees

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUMALA AUG. 16. The Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam (TTD) management is seriously thinking of insisting on the pilgrims wearing the traditional dress during their visit to the hill temple.

Talking to presspersons, the TTD Executive Officer, P. Krishnaiah, said the idea of insisting on the traditional dress was just to create more consciousness that they were on a pilgrimage and not on a holiday tour or picnic. "We have to see to what extent the devotees will respond ... let this be a beginning,'' he said.

Once the `dress code' is implemented, the `divine pleasure', the devotees experienced would double. Asked what made the TTD to suddenly think of the issue, Mr. Krishnaiah said the `jeans, bermudas, middies' and other modern garments were not good enough for pilgrimage. "Many hurdles can crop up in the process of implementation, but we have to invariably reverse the process (of westernisation),'' he said.

Restrictions are already in place that participation in certain `sevas' in the temple, such as abhishekam, kalyanotsavam, sahasradeepalankara seva, enjoin on `grihastas' (householders) participate in the traditional dress during the `sankalpam'.

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