More temples in Goa might ban entry to ill-dressed visitors

Panaji, July 12: The ban on visitors wearing indecent clothes, is likely to be extended to more temples in Goa, with a right wing organisation deciding to lend its support to the campaign on the issue.

Gomant Mandir and Dharmik Sanstha Mahasangh (GMDSM), a federation of various temple committees in Goa, has said that it will convince the temple managements to ensure that the visitors are properly dressed.

Goa has more than 1,000 temples across the state. GMDSM coordinator Jayesh Thali said that the idea to convince the rest of the temple managements came up only after two temples in the state took up a dress-code initiative.

The organisation has said that the improperly dressed or short-dressed visitors should be barred from entering the temples.

Two of Goa's leading temples have already asked the visitors, especially foreigners, to either dress properly or not to enter the temple premises. Mahalsa Narayani Temple at Mardol, 20 kms away from here, has already banned the entry of foreigners.

Thali told PTI that the steps taken by both the temples are worth appreciating. "The decision taken by the management of the temple is an ideal one and worth emulating by all temples," he said.

The management of the temples that imposed a ban had said that indecent behaviour by the visitors was hurting the religious sentiments. They had said that since the visitors, especially foreigners, were not properly informed about the religious practices here, they indulge in indecent behaviour.

PTI