Secretary of Mansa Devi temple board insists on 'dress code'

In a statement issued, Prajapati said that wearing of the short dress by some devotees hurts the sentiments of others visiting the temple. The practice of wearing and covering the head is followed at other religious places as well, so why not in the temple. He also said that many people have objected to wearing of short dresses and everyone's feelings should be respected.

Panchkula (Haryana):Secretary of Shri Mansa Devi Temple Board, Shardha Prajapati has objected to wearing of short dresses and western clothes in the premises of ancient Shaktipeeth Shri Mata Mansa Devi Temple and has instructed the devotees coming to the temple to follow the traditional dress code.

In a statement issued, Prajapati said that wearing of the short dress by some devotees hurts the sentiments of others visiting the temple. The practice of wearing and covering the head is followed at other religious places as well, so why not in the temple. He also said that many people have objected to wearing of short dresses and everyone's feelings should be respected.

However, Shri Mansa Devi Temple Board has distanced itself from the statement and said that it was his personal statement. It has nothing to do with the board, nor has the board made any such law.

This is not for the first time that a man in authority had remarked about wearing western dresses. Earlier, former Chief Minister Of Uttarakhand, Tirath Singh Rawat's derogatory remark on women clothes has sparked controversy.

READ:Uttarakhand CM's remark on women sparks controversy

Addressing a workshop organised by the Uttarakhand State Commission for Protection of Child Rights in Dehradun, Rawat said that he was shocked after seeing a woman seated near him on an aeroplane wearing ripped jeans.

"Recently when I was returning from Jaipur...I noticed a woman sitting beside me. She was wearing gumboots and ripped jeans exposing her knees. The woman, who runs an NGO, was with her two kids. What kind of values would you give to your children?" Rawat has said.

"The atmosphere that is being created is not right. This is becoming the atmosphere of the Britishers and people consider the Britishers to be good. I am urging parents to give good value to their children ​​at home. The child who has good values ​​can never fail," he had added.

The grand temple of Mata Mansa in Panchkula near Chandigarh was built between 1811-1815 by Raja Gopal Singh and is spread over 100 acres.