Must we wear the traditional dress and markings of a Vaiṣṇava? His Divine Grace Om Visnupad Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj
Question: Here in the cultural environment of the West it seems necessary to make adjustments for time and place. Must we wear the dress of the traditional cloth of the Gauḍīya–Vaiṣṇavas—tilak, dhoti, and so on— to present the teachings of Mahāprabhu? Please offer me some advice on this matter. Śrīla Govinda Mahārāj replied: Regarding your questions: for householders, what is a suitable dress for their duties, they may accept that. For their preaching, what is most suitable may be worn, but at least for ārati, for the worshipping of the Deities, the dhotī, and so on, should be worn.The brahmachārīs will more actively maintain the external garments. They are full-time representing the Mission and should be recognised as such, as far as possible. But for sannyāsīs they are to always wear the dress of sannyās. If it is absolutely