Jain wear

Worship cloth

For puja in a Jain temple, many worshippers change into clean, unstitched cloth that is kept for the purpose. Men commonly wear a dhoti and an upper cloth, and women wear a saree, often plain and white or in light colours, without silk in some traditions. Some Jains avoid leather and silk because their making involves harm to living beings. The worship cloth is washed separately and not worn outside. Practice varies by sect, such as the Shvetambara and Digambara, and by family, and not every Jain woman follows these rules in the same way.

Silk and non-violence

Many Jains follow ahimsa, the principle of non-violence, and some avoid conventional silk because the cocoons are boiled to extract the thread. These families may choose cotton, wool, linen or cloth woven from ahimsa or peace silk, in which the moth is allowed to leave the cocoon, though this varies by family and sect. Others wear silk without concern. Clothing at Jain festivals such as Paryushana is usually simple, and monastic women of the Shvetambara tradition wear plain white cloth. Many laypeople choose light colours during fasts and observances.

Weddings and daily wear

Jain brides in Gujarat and Rajasthan wear the same bridal cloth as others of their region, such as the Gharchola, Panetar, bandhani and leheriya, in red, maroon and other auspicious colours. Jain communities of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu wear the regional silks and cottons. Many Jain families are associated with the textile trade, especially in Gujarat and Rajasthan, and have been merchants of cloth, dyes and zari for generations. Everyday wear in these communities is much the same as in the surrounding region, in cotton and light synthetics.

Customs and etiquette

Visitors to a Jain temple are asked to dress modestly and to remove leather items, such as belts, purses and shoes, before entering. In some temples, women are asked not to enter during menstruation, though practice differs. Clean clothes are expected, and in some temples visitors change into a worship cloth supplied or kept there. Do not bring in anything made of leather. It is best to ask the temple office about any dress code, since it may differ between Shvetambara and Digambara temples and between towns.

Worth knowing

• Ahimsa silk: Also called peace silk, made without killing the moth.
• Bandhani: A tie-dyed cloth of Gujarat and Rajasthan worn by many communities.
• Gharchola: A Gujarati bridal saree with a grid of tied squares.
• Paryushana: The main Jain festival of fasting and reflection.
• Unstitched worship cloth: Plain cloth worn for puja in the temple.

Good to know

• Keep the worship cloth separate and wash it on its own.
• Choose cotton or ahimsa silk if you avoid conventional silk.
• Leave leather items outside the temple.

Sources and further reading

• Jainism on Wikipedia
• Ahimsa silk, Wikipedia