Kerala Considers Ending Tradition of Dressing as a Holy Symbol in Ancient Temples

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala - In a move that has sparked heated debates across Hindu communities, the Kerala government is looking into lifting its ban on women and children wearing Western-style clothing while visiting ancient temples.

The practice, which dates back to 1917 and was initially implemented as a way to " preserve the purity of the temple ", had been under scrutiny for quite some time with many arguing it's discriminatory and demeaning.

Sources close to the government revealed that an official notification was likely to be issued this week regarding the consideration and re-evaluation of Kerala's tradition of preventing devotees from entering temples while wearing modern clothes, particularly those deemed "indecent".

"We will need to examine these concerns in the context of contemporary Indian society", said a senior state administration official .  "While there is merit to preserving India's rich cultural heritage, at times such laws can be seen as discriminative and counterproductive".

Some have welcomed this development as an opportunity to modernise and make religious practices more inclusive. Others however have been vocal against the reversal of Kerala's centuries-old policy, with some even warning that an attempt by one to dismantle another will only serve to fuel existing tensions within society.

As this is likely to be a contentious issue in the months and years ahead,  Alayaran.com brings you all the updates as it happens — the debates and analysis, the discussions – we are committed to providing readers with an accurate picture of this story evolving.