Dress Code – Tirumala
According to the Scriptures, dharma protects those, who safeguard it. If the tree in our garden has to give fruits and shade, we have to nourish it with water and manure. Similarly, dharma flourishes only when we protect it properly.
The Hindu dharma is as ancient as time itself. Hinduism prescribes the ideal means for a peaceful and joyful worldly life, besides being dedicated to the service of God wholeheartedly. Our traditions and customs are as vast as the sky and as generous as Mother Earth.
Temples play a significant role in Hinduism. They are not only merely places of worship. They are the eternal symbols of our culture, tradition and history. The holy shrines sanctify our motherland. The temple of Lord Venkateswara stands unique. Tirumala is so sacred that Sri Ramanuja, the vaishnava preceptor climbed on his knees as he considered it sacrilegious to set foot on the holy Hills.
Thousands of pious devotees throng the Srivari temple every day with devotion. Unfortunately, many of them are ignorant of the customs and traditions to be observed while visiting Tirumala. Therefore, the Devasthanam is instructed from time to time to follow the rules and regulations strictly in Tirumala.
DEVOTEES COMING FOR SWAMI DARSHAN MUST FOLLOW THE BELOW GIVEN DRESS CODE :
Women: Saree with a blouse, Halfsaree, Punjabi Dress with Duppata or Chudidhar with Duppata.
Men: Paijama – Kurtha or Dhoti – Uttariyam.
Every devotee should enter the temple wearing clean, traditional clothes with Thirunamam. We visit the Srivari temple and offer worship to the Lord of Seven Hills to make our lives pure and divine. Therefore, it is our responsibility to maintain the pristine purity of the abode of Lord Srinivasa as long as we stay there. Purity of mind and body is essential to secure God’s Grace.
In this regard, TTD made it compulsory to wear traditional clothes, while participating in arjitha sevas and in Rs.300/- Special entry darshan. Men should wear kurtha, paijama and women should wear either sarees or salwar-kameez.
Traditional dresses are more convenient and comfortable. Besides, they maintain the decency and decorum of a place of worship unlike the Western sartorial fashion, which is odd and inappropriate. We shall be able to safeguard the sanctity of Tirumala by the way we conduct ourselves as devotees.
TTD sincerely appeal to the pilgrims to strictly observe the age-old customs and usage on their visit to the sacred Hills and help Devasthanams maintain the holiness of this great sacred place.
