'Ladies wearing short skirts and dress not allowed'; Mahakal Mandir with dress code for entry, where men can enter in shorts

KOLKATA: Women wearing short dresses banned from entering a temple in West Bengal. This gender specific ban is at the Mahakal Mandir in Darjeeling. The temple has taken the new step stating that women wearing short dresses do not suit the sanctity of the temple.

However, men enter the temple wearing shorts. The directive imposing the gender discriminatory ban on temple entry was issued by Mahakal Mandir Pooja Committee and Welfare Society. MMPWC President Meghraj Rai said that Mahakal Mandir is a sacred place where people from across the world come to pray, and wearing short dresses and miniskirts doesn’t suit the sanctity of the temple. Committee general secretary Kishore Gazmer added that they are not against anyone’s choice of clothing, but other devotees have objected to such dresses, saying it gets awkward at times.

A signboard has also been installed in the temple premises regarding the ban. Arrangements have been made for those wearing short clothes to wear traditional long Indian attire. Ghagras and long skirts can be rented for a security deposit of Rs 100, with a refund of Rs 75. Meanwhile, there has been criticism of the ban on women at a place where there is no problem with men wearing shorts.