‘No Bermuda, Mini Skirt, Mobiles’: Udaipur’s Eklingji Temple’s Strict Rules For Devotees

The Eklingji temple in Udaipur has announced that phones and entry of people wearing short clothes will be prohibited, to maintain the sanctity of the religious place. On Friday, a banner was installed on the temple premises mentioning new guidelines.
Under these new guidelines, the temple will prohibit entry of devotees wearing short clothes such as shorts, mini skirts and night suits. The temple management has clarified that the dress code aims to preserve the temple’s purity and respect its sacredness.
Along with the restrictions on clothing, devotees cannot carry their mobile phones inside the premises. Earlier visitors were allowed to bring their phone but it had to be switched off. The management has also reiterated that pets and weapons remain prohibited in the temple.
The temple committee has urged devotees to respect these new rules to maintain the sanctity of the shrine. They said that many visitors had expressed discomfort over inappropriate attire within the temple, prompting these changes.
Situated in Kailashpuri village, about 22 kilometres from Udaipur, the Eklingji Temple is a highly revered shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, worshipped as the deity of Mewar. The temple was originally established by Bappa Rawal between 734 and 753 AD and later renovated by Maharana Mokal during his reign from 1421 to 1433 AD. The present-day idol was installed by Maharana Raimal  (1473-1509 AD).
The temple is constructed using white marble, and the temple complex is a combination of 108 small shrines. The sanctum houses a four-faced black marble idol of Lord Eklingji and a silver idol of Nandi outside
Other temples in Rajasthan have also implemented dress codes to promote discipline and cultural awareness. In Jagdish Temple, Udaipur, T-shirts, Bermudas, and night suits were banned last year, though the decision sparked controversy, leading to the removal of banners.
In Jharkhand Mahadev Temple, Jaipur too, half-pants, bermudas, mini skirts, night suits, and torn jeans were banned. Kotri Charbhujanath Temple, Bhilwara had also enforced a dress code earlier.