Are Parents To Blame For Girls' 'Short Clothes'? Ujjain Temple Poster Sparks Debate

News18

5 days ago

A poster at Bade Ganesh Mandir in Ujjain's Birla village has sparked controversy by questioning girls' clothing and urging "Sanatani dress" in temples
A fresh controversy has emerged in the temple town of Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, after a poster displayed at the Shree Bada Ganesh Mandir in Birla village, Nagda, set out five pointed questions on women's clothing choices at the temple. The notice, which calls for adherence to 'Sanatani dress" at temples, has triggered discussions among devotees, priests, and the public but the identity of those behind it remains unknown.
Across Ujjain, several temples have already put up banners urging visitors to follow a traditional dress code. Temple priests often remind devotees to arrive in a traditional attire, a practice common in South Indian temples and already enforced inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Mahakal temple. The new poster at Shree Bada Ganesh Mandir, however, has attracted particular attention for directly addressing parents and questioning the perceived acceptance of revealing clothing.
The text criticises what it describes as the 'silent approval" of parents who let their children wear 'indecent" outfits. It also questions the belief that wearing 'short" clothes reflects modernity or sophistication. The poster ends with a reference to the 'Janjagran Samiti", leading to speculation that a social group may be responsible, though no organisation has claimed ownership.
Mahesh Sharma, president of the All India Priest Federation and a senior Mahakal temple priest, publicly backed the message. 'A temple is a place of faith and dignity. All devotees, especially young women, should maintain decorum when entering. This is already the tradition in many temples," he said, adding that a dress code upholds cultural and spiritual sanctity.
Several devotees at the temple also expressed support for the measure.
The five points listed on the board are as follows:
Is there a mother who sows the seeds of obscene dressing by choosing indecent clothes for her innocent little daughters (above 4, 6, 8 years) after watching TV shows and films?
Is there a father who remains silent when his daughters above 10 years of age wear indecent, tight, and short clothes?
Is there a belief that considers a girl wearing short, revealing dresses to be modern, smart, and standard?
Give your daughters the freedom of thought, not of indecent and obscene dressing.
Decent clothing is the protective shield of your daughter.
Local authorities and the temple committee claim they have no knowledge of when or by whom the poster was placed, but it has already ignited a debate in the district.
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First Published:
August 11, 2025, 17:55 IST
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