Dress code for men at Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil?

At Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil in Jaffna, the strict dress code for men asks them to remove their shirts and come in bare-chested. Men also need to wear trousers, or else a traditional dhoti (verti) that actually covers their knees.

This sort of tradition is deeply rooted in Hindu values; it stands for humility and a real respect before the deity. Also, every visitor, no matter their gender, has to take off their footwear at the entrance and make sure their shoulders as well as legs are covered properly.