New Delhi: The Kashi Vishwanath temple administration in Varanasi has imposed a ban on the entry of foreign women wearing 'inappropriate dress'.
The temple administration has now introduced a special dress code for West pilgrims saying they must come properly dressed or should wrap a saree before entering the world famous shrines.
Foreign visitors wearing a pair of jeans or salwar-kameez, the administration said, wouldn't need to change the dress.
According to the assistant chief executive officer of the temple, PN Dwivedi, temple priests had complaint about foreign women turning up in shorts, calf-length pants and sleeveless tops.
Following this, the administration decided to introduce a dress code for such pilgrims.
The idea is to make foreigners understand Indian culture and Vedic tradition, he said.
The temple authorities have also provided 25 sarees at the two entry points of the temple. Female police personnel have been deployed to assist such pilgrims.
The temple administration, Dwivedi said, is also planning to introduce dress code of dhoti for male devotees in future.
On an average, 60,000 devotees visit the temple every day with around five per cent of them being foreigners.
