Karnataka’s Mahabaleshwar temple announces rigid dress code; no jeans, T-shirts and shorts

Visitors wearing jeans, T-shirts or Bermuda shorts can no more enter the Mahabaleshwar Temple at Gokarna in Karnataka. The temple authorities on Thursday announced a rigid dress code banning jeans pant, trousers and Bermuda shorts at the popular pilgrimage centre.

“We have already implemented the dress code in Gokarna.

The restrictions were already there but we implemented them a month ago,” the executive officer of Gokarna Mahabaleshwar temple H Halappa told PTI Thursday.

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Dresses visitors must avoid while visiting the temple: Jeans, trousers, shorts, shirt, pant, vest, hat, cap and coat.

Dress code for Men: Dhoti

Dress code for Women: Salwar suit and saree

“For men only dhoti is allowed. They can’t enter temple wearing shirts, tee-shirts and vest. Women are allowed only in salwar suit and saree. They can’t come in wearing jeans pant,” Halappa said.

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The dress code order, however, was opposed by G K Hegde, former administrator of the Ramachandrapura Mutt near the Gokarna temple.

“The dress code was only for men that they should not enter the temple wearing shirts and without taking bath. There was no restriction for women,” Hegde claimed.

Historical facts about Mahabaleshwar temple

The Mahabaleshwar temple in Gokarna, considered one of the seven “Muktikshetras or Muktistala (places of salvation) was built by Mayur Sharma of Kadamba dynasty in the 4^th Century AD.

The temple is located near the Karwar beach facing the Arabian sea.