Thu Jan 02 13:53:27 UTC 2025: ## NSS Condemns Kerala CM’s Support for Abolition of Traditional Temple Dress Code

**Kottayam, Kerala, January 2, 2025** – The Nair Service Society (NSS) has sharply criticized Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for endorsing Swami Sachithananda’s call to abolish the practice of male devotees removing their shirts before entering certain Hindu temples. G. Sukumaran Nair, general secretary of the NSS, stated at the 148th Mannam Jayanti celebrations that devotees have the right to choose whether or not to wear shirts in temples without government interference.

Mr. Nair argued that the Chief Minister’s endorsement of Swami Sachithananda’s view, which labeled the practice a “social evil,” is hypocritical. He questioned whether the Chief Minister and the Swami would dare to similarly challenge religious practices in other faiths. He emphasized that Hindu temples have diverse customs, and that while some permit darshan (viewing of the deity) while wearing shirts, others do not. He cited Sabarimala as an example of a temple without such restrictions.

Mr. Nair further highlighted the progressive legacy of Mannathu Padmanabhan, the NSS founder, who opened his family temple to all communities long before the temple entry movement. He asserted that the NSS’s position is that temples with existing dress codes should maintain them, rejecting any attempt to impose uniform practices on Hindus. The statement comes in response to Swami Sachithananda’s announcement that temples associated with Sree Narayana Guru would abolish the shirt-removal practice. The NSS general secretary characterized the idea that Hindu practices can be unilaterally imposed upon as unacceptable.

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