Temple etiquette and staying safe

Dress, footwear, photography, queues, prasāda, donations and touts

Every temple is someone's home of worship, with its own customs. A little preparation keeps the visit peaceful for you and for others.

• Dress: modest, traditional clothes — many South Indian and some other temples require a dhoti or veṣṭi for men and a sari, salwar or long skirt for women, and some ask men to remove shirts before the sanctum. • Footwear: leave shoes at the official stand outside; some temples also forbid leather belts and bags. • Photography: usually not allowed inside, and phones are often banned altogether — deposit them at the cloakroom. • Entry: a few temples, such as Jagannātha at Puri and Liṅgarāja, admit only Hindus; respect the rule.

• Queues: stay in line, be patient with elders and children, and follow the volunteers and police. Paid or special darśana is available at many temples — buy it only at official counters or on the official website. • Prasāda: accept it with the right hand, buy it from the temple's own counter, and do not waste it. • Donations: give only at official counters or hundis, and ask for a receipt for larger gifts.

• Beware of touts: ignore people who offer “VIP darśana”, quick entry or special pūjās for cash at stations and gates. Book darśana, rooms and helicopter seats only on official websites — fake booking sites copy temple names and logos, so type the address yourself and check that it is the official government or trust site.

Modest, traditional dress · Phones often not allowed · Donate only at official counters · Book only on official sites

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