'Yellow clothes, no smartphones': New rules for Ayodhya Ram Mandir priests
'Yellow clothes, no smartphones': New rules for Ayodhya Ram Mandir priests
There will be a new dress code for the priests in Ayodhya’s Ram Temple, according to News18. According to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, which manages the temple, the priests will have to wear bright yellow coloured safa (headgear), chabandi (kurta) and dhoti.
The priests can also no longer carry smartphones inside the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum).
Sources told News18 that the measures are part of an effort to maintain uniformity among the priests and make them distinct from others on the premises.
“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,” said Santosh Kumar Tiwari, assistant priest at the Ram Temple.
Earlier, most of the priests at the temple wore saffron attires. “Some of the priests used to come in yellow attires, but it was not mandatory,” said Tiwari.
According to him, 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 trust has stated that the restrictions on carrying mobile phones have been imposed due to security reasons. However, sources told News18 that the decision was taken following the water leakage issue.
The Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government recently suspended six officials in Ayodhya after the newly-built Ram Path saw waterlogging and road cave-ins.
Several visuals and videos of waterlogging after heavy rains at various places in the temple town have gone viral on social media platforms.
Reports said that portions of the 14-kilometre road stretch also caved in at several places.
PWD principal secretary Ajay Chauhan said that a probe is underway.
A video shared by PTI showed waterlogging at Sri Ram Hospital in Ayodhya on June 29.
According to PTI, Ahmedabad-based contractor Bhuvan Infracom Private Limited has been issued a notice in connection with the matter by the Uttar Pradesh government.
However, Champat Rai, the General Secretary of the Temple Trust, rejected the allegations of water leakage from the roof of Ram Temple.
“The first thing is that in the sanctum sanctorum where Lord Ramlala is seated, not a single drop of water has dripped from the roof, nor has water entered the sanctum sanctorum from anywhere,” Rai said on X.