Women will now be able to enter the Guruvayur Sri Krishna temple wearing churidars.

The decision was taken by the temple administration committee on Thursday in response to a call for changing temple customs in tune with the times.

Devaswom chairman Thottathil Ravindran said women devotees, especially those from north India, had been demanding for long that they be allowed to have darshan wearing churidars.

“The committee discussed this demand and decided to honour the request from Friday,” he said.

According to the existing custom, women can enter the temple wearing only saris or full skirts with tops. 

The decision comes in the backdrop of a raging debate over allowing non-Hindus inside the temple.

A purification rite conducted at the temple after the entry of Union Minister Vayalar Ravi’s son inside because of his Christian maternity had stirred a hornet’s nest. Mr Ravindran said the devaswom had held a meeting of Hindu organisations on the issue of allowing non-Hindus inside.

“Among the 22 Hindu organisations that attended only two opposed the proposal,’’ he said. Preparations are also on for conducting a devaprasnam (ascertaining the will of the lord)  on the matter next month.