Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
BHUBANESWAR, INDIA, December 8, 2009: Jagannath Temple will not change its rules for the President. The bodyguards of the nation’s Supreme Commander, Pratibha Patil, will have to leave behind their guns and pistols at the gate and escort her around the 900-year-old shrine on Wednesday.
The temple management has given the President’s staff a list of dos and dont’s, keeping in view the traditions followed rigidly in the 12th century shrine that allows in only “orthodox Hindus.” Like any other Hindu temple, the President will have to enter barefoot, but this time she cannot even wear socks. The temple also forbids carrying anything made of leather like belts, wallets and money purses. No visitor is permitted to wear a cap inside as well, a guideline that does not apply to Sikhs and the king of Puri, Gajapati Maharaja, who is also chairman of the Jagannath temple management committee.
According to sources, the government has advised her office to ensure that the President’s team entering the temple comprises of Hindus only.