The priests in Ayodhya's Ram Temple have a new uniform and will have to adhere to strict guidelines.
According to temple trust officials, the priests at the Ram temple must wear bright yellow attire and are banned from carrying mobile phones to the sanctum sanctorum. These measures aim to maintain uniformity and ensure security.
Previously, the priests used to wear saffron attire, including a turban, kurta, and dhoti. From July 1, they have switched to a new dress code featuring yellow (pitambari) dhotis, paired with matching yellow kurtas and turbans. Temple officials have enforced this new dress code, and the newly appointed priests have been trained in tying the yellow turbans.
The 'chaubandi' kurta has no buttons and a thread is used to tie it. The yellow 'dhoti', a piece of cotton cloth, is tied around the waist and covers the legs up to the ankles.
The turban is made of cotton, and the priests were given training on how to sport them properly.
“A new dress code has been implemented for the priests at the Ram Temple. Now the priests, including the chief priest, four assistant priests and 20 trainee priests, will sport safa to be wrapped around the head, chaubandi (full-sleeve kurta) and dhoti, all in yellow colour,” News18 quoted Santosh Kumar Tiwari, an assistant priest at the Ram Temple as saying.
Tiwari further said that as per the Sanatana Dharma, priests should be in clothes that are worn head and hands first. The newly introduced dress code adheres to the same.
The move to ban priests from carrying their phones to the temples was part of security measures, reported the Hindustan Times, citing sources. It was taken after recent pictures of the temple were leaked online.
The temple has a chief priest and four assistant priests. Now, each assistant priest will be accompanied by five trainee priests.
Each team of priests renders its services for five hours in shifts between 3.30 am and 11 pm.
(With inputs from Agencies)
