Chikkamgaluru (Karnataka), Jul 19: The Sharadamba temple in Sringeri has introduced a dress code for devotees entering the shrine, starting from August 15.

According to a statement from the temple administration, only traditional Indian attire will be permitted for those visiting the temple for darshan.

It specified that devotees must wear traditional Indian clothing while visiting the Sringeri Sharade temple and the Shankaracharya Guru's Mutt located across the Tunga river.

Those who do not comply with the dress code will be restricted to viewing the deity from outside the Ardha Mandapam, unable to access the inner sanctum, the Gharba Gudi (Sanctum Sanctorum), and the inner Parikrama.

The prescribed attire includes dhoti, shalya, and Uttariya (Angavastram) for men, and saree-blouse, salwar-dupatta, or langa davani for women, it stated.

This dress code has previously been enforced during the pada pooja and Guru darshan at Gurunivas of Sri Math. However, starting from August 15, it will be strictly applied to all devotees visiting the temple.

The imposition of the dress code has been positively received on social media, with devotees across the diaspora expressing support. Many have observed that some visitors dressed inappropriately, treating the temple precincts more like a tourist spot than a place of worship.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Bhatkal: The Karnataka unit of the All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA) has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to strictly ban school children from dancing to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes in government, aided, and private schools across the state.

AIITA Karnataka State President M. R. Manvi congratulated the government for taking what he termed an important step to preserve the sanctity of education.

“Such decisions to safeguard the dignity of school children and uphold the values of education are the need of the hour. This rule should not be limited to government schools alone but must be strictly implemented in all private educational institutions as well,” he said.

He further urged the government to address other concerns within school programmes.

“The government should not only prohibit obscene dances in the name of school anniversaries, but also ensure that plays and dialogues that incite religious hatred are avoided. Schools should be centres of harmony, not platforms for spreading hatred,” he added.

According to a recent circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, obscene dances are adversely affecting the mental health and moral values of students.

In this regard, schools have been advised to use songs that promote nationalism, positive thinking, the greatness of Kannada culture, and value-based traditions instead of inappropriate content during programmes.
The circular also emphasises that students should be dressed in decent attire.

AIITA also backed the department’s warning that disciplinary action would be taken against head teachers if such guidelines are violated. The association has further demanded that district Deputy Directors of Public Instruction strictly monitor the implementation of these rules.