Visiting a mandir
You do not need an invitation, an appointment or a membership, and you do not need to be Hindu. A mandir is open to anyone who comes with respect. This guide is for a first visit: a friend's wedding, a school trip, a new city, or simply curiosity.
Five things to know
- Shoes come off before you enter the prayer hall. There is a rack or a room for them near the door.
- Dress modestly. Covered shoulders and knees are right everywhere. Some temples in South India ask for traditional dress; their notice board will say so.
- Entry is free. There is a donation box, and giving is your choice.
- You may be offered prasad, food that has first been offered to the deity. Receive it in your right hand. It is fine to say no politely.
- You can simply watch. Nobody expects a visitor to know the prayers.
Before you go
Check the timings. Many mandirs open early in the morning, close in the middle of the day and open again in the evening, and the busiest moments are the aarti, when lamps are offered with singing and bells. Festival days are crowded and joyful; an ordinary weekday evening is calmer for a first visit.
MandirMaps shows timings and aarti times only when the temple itself has given them. Where a page has none yet, call the temple or look at its own website; both are on its page.
When you arrive
- Leave your shoes at the rack. Socks are fine. Many people also wash their hands.
- Switch your phone to silent.
- Walk in and stand or sit where others do. In most mandirs people sit on the floor; chairs are usually kept for those who need them. In some temples men and women sit on separate sides, so follow what you see.
- People greet the deity with joined palms and a bow. You may do the same, or stand quietly.
- If people are walking around the shrine, they go clockwise, keeping it on their right.
- When you sit, try not to point the soles of your feet toward the shrine.
Aarti and prasad
During aarti a priest waves a lamp before the deity while everyone sings. Afterwards the lamp is brought round; people pass their hands over the flame and touch them to their eyes or forehead. Join in or let it pass, as you prefer.
Prasad may be a sweet, fruit, or a full meal. Many mandirs serve a free meal on certain days, and gurdwaras serve langar, a free vegetarian meal, to everyone, every day. Take only what you will eat.
Common questions
Can I take photos? Outside, usually yes. Inside the prayer hall, and of the deities, often no. Look for a sign or ask.
Can I bring children? Yes. Children are welcome and nobody minds a little noise.
Do I have to give money? No.
What should I not bring? Leave meat, alcohol and tobacco behind. Some temples also ask visitors not to bring leather items into the hall.
How long does a visit take? Ten minutes for a quiet look; an hour if you stay for aarti and a meal.
Is everything in English? Prayers are usually in Sanskrit or the community's own language. Someone will almost always be glad to explain.
Gurdwaras, Jain and Buddhist temples
- Gurdwara: cover your head as well as removing your shoes; scarves are kept at the door for visitors. Everyone sits on the floor, and everyone is welcome at langar.
- Jain temple: the same care, and a little more: no leather, and no food or drink inside the temple hall.
- Buddhist temple: shoes off, quiet voices, and do not point your feet toward the image of the Buddha.
Customs differ from one temple to the next. When in doubt, read the notice at the door or ask someone; a visitor who asks is always welcome.