NECF secretary has urged the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment Department to stop illegal practices like ‘entry into Temples Shirtless’ in the interest of the general public and also requested the Department to come up with a resolution.
NECF’s letter
National Environmental Care Federation (NECF) in Mangalore penned a letter to the Principal Secretary of Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment Department recommending them to stop the age-old tradition of compulsory removal of T-Shirts to pay respect to Hindu deities at temples. In the letter, the NECF urged them to stop such practices at Hindu worship places calling the practice ‘illogical’, reported News18.
NECF argued that such ‘irregularities’ create an unnecessary problem for the devotee and claimed that there is no such practice specified by the Hindu scriptures, nor is there a government ruling in effect.
Shashidhar Shetty’s viral video
NECF secretary H Shashidhar Shetty, in a video, has mentions several examples and in one such example claimed that while members of their federation visited temples like the Mookambika Temple in Kollur in the Udupi district, they had an uncomfortable experience.
Shashidhar alleged that at the entrance of Subramanya temple there is a board put up stating “Please remove T-shirts/shirts/ baniyans before entering the temple” which they called ‘illogical’.
He also argued that pilgrims with skin diseases may expose other devotees to such conditions. They also claimed that physically challenged people would have to face serious humiliation when their body is exposed.
Shashidhar Shetty further urged the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment Department to stop such ‘illegal practices in the interest of the general public and also requested the Department to comply with the letter within 15 days.
This, however, sparked a huge debate as some people argued that these allegations were an attempt to devalue the age-old Hindu tradition.
