Christian churches, Hindu temples, Buddhist temples, and Islamic mosques, to name a few, are all places of worship which are considered holy. When you visit these temples, it is your duty to respect the people and their religion. It’s not often that you visit all four places frequently and know the rules of the place. Therefore, it’s very important to know what to expect and how to behave while you are there. Most of these places of worship abide by similar rules. So, keep reading if you plan to visit a place of worship you are not familiar with!
Christian Churches
- Dress modestly (no shorts/tanks/tees)
- No shoes inside church
- Women to cover their head
- Men & women sit separately (in most Eastern/traditional churches)
- No eating allowed inside the church
- Front section of the church is only for service leaders and priests
Hindu Temples
- Dress modestly. For women, cover shoulders and knees
- Take off shoes upon entering the premises
- Some temples will provide clothing to cover up if shoulders and knees are not covered
- Not all areas as accessible to outsiders/non-believers.
- Women are not allowed in some parts of the temple
This is a picture of a Hindu temple in Kerala, that I got to visit during a festival. It was filled with candles and lights for the night time prayer rituals.
Buddhist Temples
- Dress modestly; shoulders and knees should be covered
- Take off shoes before entering building
- Silence should be maintained at all times
- No food or drinks allowed inside
Islamic Mosques
- Dress modestly: For women, loose clothing that covers the whole body + scarf to cover the head. Men: cover body including knees and shoulders.
- No visible tattoos
- No food/drinks/alcohol, etc allowed.
- Taking pictures or videos are not allowed
- Some will provide women’s abayas (body covering) and hijabs (head covering).
*The only way you can enter as a non-believer is if you go on a tour.
No matter which country you are in and which place of worship you visit, I would highly recommend going with someone you know. If you go with a local, who knows the rules and surroundings, you are less likely to stand out or do anything out of the norm.
Visiting temples (known as watts) is a popular thing to do in Thailand. Check out my most visited blog post on our Thailand trip here!
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