Shorts, ripped jeans, skirts not allowed in Puri's Jagannath temple as dress code comes into force
Puri, Jan 1: People wearing half-plants, shorts, ripped jeans, skirts and sleeveless dresses will not be allowed entry into the famed Jagannath temple in Odisha's Puri as a dress code came into force on Monday, officials said.
Devotees will be required to wear "decent clothes", which are not revealing, to enter the temple, they said.
As the new rule came into force, men were seen entering the 12th-century shrine wearing dhotis and 'gamchas', while women were mostly seen in either sarees or salwar kameez.
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has asked hotels to make people aware of the dress code as most of the devotees come to the temple from there, officials said.
The SJTA also increased its vigil on chewing gutkha and pan inside the temple, besides the use of plastic bags, which have been banned, they said.
The doors of the temple reopened for devotees as early as 1.40 am to handle the rush on New Year's Day, and till 5 pm, about 3.5 lakh people visited the shrine, the SJTA said.
Elaborate arrangements were made to ensure that no untoward incident take place at the temple, which is the home to the sibling deities of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra.
The air-conditioned tensile fabric structure that has been built outside the temple was made functional in the morning.
Facilities such as drinking water and public toilets have been made available at the structure, and it has also been equipped with CCTV cameras and public announcement systems. Sitting arrangements have also been provided in it.
Police said that the number of devotees visiting the temple on New Year's Day this time was double as compared to last year.
The added enthusiasm was because the people wanted to experience the revamped surrounding of the temple due to the heritage corridor project, which is almost complete, and will be inaugurated on January 17, SJTA chief administrator Ranjan Das had said on Sunday.
Traffic restrictions have also been imposed in the town. The area between Market Chakka to Singhadwara (main gate) on Badadanda has been declared a 'no vehicle zone', while vehicles have been banned on the beachside road from Digabareni to the lighthouse, officials said.
Consumption of pan and tobacco products has also been banned inside the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar.
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Minister Parameshwara says remarks on properties linked to drug peddlers 'misunderstood'
Tumakuru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday said his recent remarks on the demolition of properties linked to those involved in narcotics trade were "misunderstood and misinterpreted".
His clarification follows remarks made two days ago on the government's uncompromising crackdown on the drug menace, including action against properties linked to foreign nationals allegedly involved in drug trafficking.
"It is unfortunate. It is taken in the wrong sense. I didn't mean that tomorrow itself I am going to send bulldozers and demolish the houses. That was not my intention. It was wrongly taken," he told reporters here.
Responding to Congress MLC K Abdul Jabbar's question in the legislative council on the growing drug menace in Bengaluru, Davangere and coastal districts, the minister on Thursday detailed the extensive enforcement measures initiated since the Congress government assumed office.
Pointing to the involvement of some foreign nationals, the minister had said, "Many foreign students from African countries have come to Karnataka. They are into the drug business. We catch them and register cases against them, but they want the case to be registered because once the case is registered, we cannot deport them."
"We have gone to the extent of demolishing the rented building where they stay," he had said.
