When you visit temples in Maharashtra, you need to wear traditional clothes. This is important because it shows respect and follows customs that have been around for a long time. About 85% of the 3,500 big temples in the state have rules about what to wear. Most temples ask women to wear saris or salwar kameez, and men to wear dhotis or long pants with covered shoulders.
Famous temples like Siddhivinayak in Mumbai and Shirdi Sai Baba Temple have had strict dress rules since 2015. These rules affect around 75,000 visitors each day. You can’t wear Western clothes like shorts or sleeveless tops. Most people, about 97% of local visitors, follow these rules, while 82% of tourists also try to comply. Many temples, about 73%, offer traditional clothes for rent, costing between ₹50-150.
Recent surveys show that 88% of temple managers believe wearing traditional clothes makes the temple feel more spiritual and keeps our culture alive. From 2018 to 2023, there’s been a 45% rise in checking dress codes, including signs at the entrance and staff to help enforce the rules at 62% of big temples.
Data shows that when people wear traditional clothes, visitor happiness increases by 35%, and there are 28% fewer cases of bad behavior in temples. However, rules can be different in cities compared to older or rural temples, where they’re stricter.
Some temples now allow modern clothes that mix Indian and Western styles, as long as they’re modest. They’ve specific rules about what types of fabrics and colors are allowed. Most temples, about 95%, don’t allow see-through materials, and 89% have color guidelines that follow local traditions.
These dress rules affect around 150 million visitors each year in Maharashtra. They help keep our cultural practices alive and make sure everyone feels comfortable in the temple.