Drop in churidar-clad women devotees at Shri Krishna temple

The recent astrological 'finding' that the presiding deity of the ancient Guruvayur temple was "angry" over relaxation in the dress code for the fair sex has led to a sharp drop in women devouts clad in churidar.More and more women are seen clad in a saree apparently not wanting to displease the famed Shri Krishna deity after the astrological exercise called "devaprasnam" conducted earlier this month found that the recent relaxation of dress code did not go well with the presiding deity, temple officials said.

Guruvayur temple, where the main idol is believed to be over 5,000 years old, is known for its regid conservative traditions which included a stern rule for men requiring them to enter the temple bare-chested and that too wearing only 'mundu' (dhoti).

The findings apparently had the desired effect on women devotees, who "voluntarilly" reverted to saris or the traditional half-saree vogue in Kerala while visiting the temple.