The iconic Murudeshwar Temple in Karnataka’s Uttara Kannada district has implemented a strict dress code for visitors. Responding to appeals from Hindu organizations, temple authorities have banned modern and western outfits such as jeans, T-shirts, and shorts, urging devotees to wear traditional attire. Men will now be allowed entry only in dhotis, pants, shirts, or pyjamas, while women must wear sarees, churidars, or davanis. Nestled along the stunning Arabian Sea coast, the Murudeshwar Temple is revered as one of India’s most prominent Shiva shrines and is famed for its towering 37-meter-high statue of Lord Shiva, one of the tallest in the country. The dress code is intended to uphold the temple’s spiritual atmosphere and cultural heritage.
