Madras High Court issues temple festival performance conduct guidelines.

The Madras High Court has held that women participating in temple festival cultural programmes should not be portrayed in an "obscene or undignified manner" and directed that dancers' attire should be modest, while laying down an extensive set of conditions governing the conduct of Aadal Paadal orchestra programmes in Tamil Nadu.

The directions were issued by Justice L. Victoria Gowri while allowing a plea filed by Pichai Raja seeking police permission to conduct an Aadal Paadal orchestra programme in connection with the Sri Aathi Parameshwari Amman Temple festival at Mukkani village in Thoothukudi district. Relying on earlier circulars issued by the Director General of Police governing such cultural programmes, court permitted the event subject to more than two dozen conditions.    

Conditions imposed for temple festival programmes

Court said the organisers, who would be responsible members of the temple festival committee, must ensure that only cultural programmes having relevance to the temple or the festival are staged.

It prohibited obscene dances, vulgar dialogues and performances that could be considered indecent, while directing that women participating in the programme should not be "depicted or portrayed in an obscene or undignified manner either in the form of clothing or otherwise."

Court further said the music played during the programme should be in keeping with the sanctity of the temple precincts and should not include double-meaning songs "so as to spoil the minds of students and youths". It also directed that the programme should conclude by 10 pm.

Dress code prescribed by the court 

Among the conditions, court prescribed a dress code for performers. Male artistes were directed to wear dhoti or pyjamas with an upper cloth, while female artistes were instructed to wear sarees, half-sarees or chudithars with an upper cloth. Children participating in the programme were required to wear fully covered dresses.

The order also stipulated that the attire of dancers should be modest and "should not involve exposure of the midriff, thighs, legs or chest".

It warned that violation of this condition would result in legal action, including the arrest of the organisers and all members of the temple committee

Restrictions placed on political and communal content

Court prohibited any song or dance exhibiting a political tone, tenor or colour or promoting any religion, caste or community. It also barred slogans or speeches supporting or opposing any political party or political leader, besides prohibiting political symbols, banners and flex boards at the venue. Songs praising communal leaders or carrying communal overtones were also disallowed, as were donations or prizes in the name of political parties.

Further, court directed that no alcohol or other intoxicating substances should be supplied to participants or members of the audience in and around the venue.

It said the programme should not affect caste, religious or communal harmony and must be conducted without any discrimination.

The order required the organisers to videograph the entire programme, obtain all necessary permissions from the competent authorities and bear the police bandobust charges. It also empowered the police to stop the performance if it continued beyond the permitted time or if any of the conditions imposed by the court were violated.

Holding the organisers accountable for maintaining public order, court said they would be responsible for any untoward incident arising during the programme.

It clarified that in the event of a violation of any of the conditions, the authorities would be free to initiate action in accordance with law, while the police could impose any additional conditions considered necessary depending on the ground situation.

The present order of the high court is not an isolated one. The Madras High Court has, over the years, repeatedly imposed conditions while permitting cultural programmes held in connection with temple festivals across Tamil Nadu. The restrictions, which generally relate to obscenity, public order, political neutrality and communal harmony, have become a recurring feature of such permission orders passed by the high court.

More recently, earlier this year, court directed the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department to ensure that caste names are not printed in temple festival invitations, particularly alongside the names of donors.

Case Title: Pichai Raja v. The District Superintendent of Police, Thoothukudi and Others

Order Date: June 22, 2026

Bench: Justice L. Victoria Gowri

Tags: