The Kerala High Court today ordered that women should not be allowed to wear salwar kameez and churidars inside the famous Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, reported ANI.
This comes just days after the dress norms were relaxed for women at the temple.
In November, breaking an age-old tradition, the richest Hindu temple in the world put churidars on the allowed list, against the opinion of the chairman of the temple administrative committee, K Haripal, who wanted the present dress code maintained.
The order was the outcome of a petition filed by Thiruvananthapuram native Riya Raji in the Kerala High Court seeking its intervention after her petition to the administrative committee was rejected.
Earlier, to enter the shrine, women devotees had to wear a 'mundu' (dhoti) over their waist if they were attired in salwars or churidars.
Young girls below the age of 12 were allowed to wear gowns.
For men, it was a dhoti with or without an angavastram.
The custom was stopped from December 1, allowing women to enter in salwar kameez and churidar.
However, the move had sparked protests with many demanding that the age-old practice at the temple be restored.
Now, the Kerala High court has overturned the new rule and gone back to the old tradition of forcing women to wear mundus over their salwars and churidars.
Indian Temples And Erotic Sculptures
(01 of11)
Open Image ModalThis image is from the Khajuraho temples located in Madhya Pradesh in the small town named Khajuraho. The temples are famous for their nagara-style architectural symbolism and their erotic sculptures.
(02 of11)
Open Image ModalThe Khajuraho temple have a rich display of intricately carved statues.
(03 of11)
Open Image ModalThe artwork outside the temple, a tourist attraction, is a depiction of the four goals of Hinduism - Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.
(04 of11)
Open Image ModalRanakpur Temple in Rajasthan is dedicated to Adinath (also known as Rishabha) the first Jain Tirthankar. The temple is situated close to Udaipur.
(05 of11)
Open Image Modal(06 of11)
Open Image ModalExplaining the structures in the temple, archeologist A.K. Coomaraswamy had said that the Indian sex-symbolism is ‘sacramental’ in its likeness to the union of the individual soul with the universal spirit.
(07 of11)
Open Image ModalSituated in Hampi, Karnataka, Virupaksha temple is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a part of a group of monuments.
(08 of11)
Open Image ModalThe Khajuraho Temples in Madhya Pradesh are amongst the most beautiful medieval monuments in India. Originally a group of 85, they are the largest group of Hindu and Jain temples in the world, although only about 25 of them remain today.
(09 of11)
Open Image Modal(10 of11)
Open Image ModalThe Sun Temple in Konark is known for 'Maithunas' which are the erotic sculptures on the temple walls.
(11 of11)
Open Image ModalThe Khajuraho Temples were built by the Chandella rulers between AD 900 and 1130, during the golden period of the Chandela dynasty. The images of Goddesses and Gods sculpted on the temple walls represent the many manifestations of the divine Shakti and Shiva, the female and male principles, the Yin and the Yang.