The priests at Ayodhya’s Ram Temple have adopted a new attire as per the directive from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra. The change introduces bright yellow safa (headgear), chabandi (kurta), and dhoti, replacing the traditional saffron robes. According to Santosh Kumar Tiwari, assistant priest at the temple, “A new dress code has been implemented for the priests at the Ram Temple. Now the priests, including the chief priest, four assistant priests and 20 trainee priests, will sport safa to be wrapped around the head, chaubandi (full-sleeve kurta) and dhoti, all in yellow colour.”
Previously, most priests wore saffron attire, though some opted for yellow. Tiwari added, “Some of the priests used to come in yellow attires, but it was not mandatory.”
The trust has also restricted priests from carrying smartphones into the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum), citing security reasons. This decision follows recent concerns, including water leakage during monsoon rains. Acharya Saytendra Das, head priest of the Ram Mandir, raised the issue, stating, “With the first rains, water leakage has started in the temple where Ram Lalla is seated and the areas near it.”
Nripendra Misra, chairperson of the Ram Mandir’s management trust, inspected the site and affirmed, “not a single drop of water” had dripped onto the idol of Lord Ram or entered the sanctum sanctorum from the roof. He clarified that rainwater had seeped from pipes used for electric wires.
The new guidelines also include specific work shifts for priests. According to sources familiar with the developments, “As per the new dos and don’ts, the chief priest would be assisted by four assistant priests while each assistant priest would be assisted by five trainee priests whose shifts would start from 3:30 pm and would last till 11 pm.”