Temple Etiquette & Dresscode

A temple visit is always a very special one. In the same way you will wear your Sunday best to church on Sunday you also honor the Hindu Gods and Goddesses by dressing up and in a formal manner. In the Indian context it means wearing silk and putting flowers on your hair. So an ideal attire would be a silk long sleeved kurta top or selva kamis. For the more ambitious I would recommend a sari. There is nothing more graceful than a woman in a flowing sari.

As for etiquette the general rules that one observes in a place of worship applies. An attitude of contemplation and reverence. No loud discussions. Try and avoid taking too many photos and disrespecting the core activity of the temple - prayer, meditation and contemplation. People generally do not appreciate being photographed while they are having an intimate conversation with God. Neither do the priests like it as it breaks the spirit of reverence and prayer in the temple. In the Hindu temples generally one is not allowed to photograph the deity in the sanctum sanatorium.

Another important rule to remember is to sit cross legged. Not to sit with your feet stretched out. Pointing your feet at the deity or another other human is considered deeply disrespectful.