Religious Sites Etiquette Rules

• Please refrain from smoking at all religious sites.
• Remove your shoes before entering Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist, Islamic, and Jain houses of worship. You may wear socks/hosiery, or enter barefoot.
• Do not wear or carry items of leather or silk in Jain temples.
• Females should bring and wear a head covering in all Islamic mosques.
• Do not chew gum or bring food or drink into houses of worship.
• Wear modest clothing showing a minimum amount of skin in all Hindu mandirs and Islamic mosques.
• Wear clothes that are neither see-through nor tight fitting in Islamic mosques.
• Wear long pants in Hindu mandirs and Islamic mosques.  Females should not wear skirts.
• Males should wear shirts with sleeves in all houses of worship.
• Females should wear blouses or shirts with long sleeves in all Hindu mandirs and
  Islamic mosques.
• Be prepared to sit on carpets in Islamic mosques.
• Refrain from provocative comments or wearing provocative clothing.
• Males should be prepared to wear a yarmulke/kippah/skullcap in Jewish shuls and synagogues. These will be provided on site.
• Use appropriate terms for spiritual leaders:
  • Buddhist and Taoist — reverend/monk
  • Hindu — swami/maharaja
  • Catholic — priest/father/padre/sister
  • Protestant — minister/pastor/preacher/reverend
  • Islam — imam
  • Jewish — rabbi/reb and cantor/chazzan
• All electronic devices should be turned off or put on vibrate.
• Relax in all houses of worship.