Devotees at Kashi Vishwanath Temple to Wear Khadi Slippers

The devotees at Kashi Vishwanath Temple now don’t need to go inside the temple barefoot. The Centre has created an additional facility for those who want to pay and opt for it.

According to the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, the devotees visiting the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi and hundreds of temple workers will no longer need to enter the temple premises barefoot.

“Starting 14th January, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is beginning the sale of Khadi handmade paper “Use & Throw” slippers for the use of the devotees and the workers. The Khadi handmade paper slippers will be sold from the Khadi sales outlet located at the parking lot of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor. The handmade paper slippers can be purchased at a nominal price of Rs 50 per pair,” the Ministry said.

It added, “The slippers will be sold by Kashi Hastkala Pratisthan, a registered Khadi Institution in Varanasi. The handmade paper slipper manufacturing unit will be inaugurated by the Mahant of Kashi Vishwanath Temple on Makar Sankranti; i.e. on 14th January, 2022.”

Interestingly, when the Prime Minister had learnt that workers of the temple had to perform duty barefoot, he sent jute slippers for them.

“It is forbidden to wear footwear made of leather or rubber on the temple premises. The entire workforce of the temple including the priests, security guards, sanitation workers and people performing seva have to abide by this rule,” the Ministry said.