Now, temples to quench devotees’ thirst

Chennai: Devotees visiting various temples will soon be greeted with ‘cool’ buttermilk, panakam and drinking water.Taking into account hardship faced by e devotees visiting the temples braving the scorching sun, the state Hindu religious and charitable endowments department (HR & CE) minister R. Kamaraj has directed  temple authorities to provide buttermilk, panakam and water to quench their thirst.

 

This is the first time such a move has been initiated and this will be a respite to  devotees. Also, for the first time, the inner prakaram of the temples will be painted to prevent the heat from permeating into the temple premises. This is being done as per the guidance of AIADMK supremo J. Jayalailthaa that all major temples across the state should get fresh coat of paint to prevent the heat from affecting the devotees.

 

 Since the last four years the state government has conducted kumbhabhishekam to 7,327 temples in Tamil Nadu at a cost of Rs 290.60 crore. “This is a historical achievement,” the minister claimed and said the renovation has been taken up in another 85 temples and the consecration would be performed to those temples soon.

 

 He also informed that the renovation was progressing apace at the Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple in Srirangam, Sri Arunachaleshwar temple in Thiruvannamalai, Sri Parthasarathy Swamy temple in Triplicane, Sri Ramanathaswamy temple in Ramanathapuram, Sri Vatapatra Sai temple in Srivilliputhur and Sri Swamynathaswamy temple in Swamimalai

 

 Meanwhile, as part the intensified drive against encroachments on temple properties, the HR & CE has retrieved about 1886.79 acres land, 304.06 grounds besides buildings on 124.11 grounds belonging to various temples, from the grip of encroachers. This is a monumental achievement of the government. 

 

The market value of these assets is said to be worth Rs 2337.55 crore. Steps are on to transfer back the pattas for 3098.30 acres land belonging to 528 temples, said additional chief secretary R. Kannan and commissioner M. Veerashanmuga Mani.