Dharmasthala on lead in Karnataka’s wide cleanliness campaign of religious places

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Dec 15 , 2016 :  Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) under the guidance of D Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Sri Kshetra on Thursday announced a programme to clean up religious places across Karnataka before January 13, 2017, day before Makara Sankranti. Nearly 18,000 self-help groups will be involved in this endeavor.

 

Heggade who chaired a high powered meeting of stakeholders at Dharmasthala, some 75-kms from here, later told reporters that the campaign will cover temples, daivasthanas, churches and mosques in the state. "Cleanliness is a symbol of culture. The kshetra has come up with this project that aims at ensuring internal and external cleanliness at all religious places in Karnataka. The power of any religious place increases and it glows when it is kept clean, Heggade averred.

The project will also strive to drive home the message of cleanliness of religious places among its managers and devotees who visit it, Heggade said adding the campaign will be completed before Makara Sankranti. Besides, SKDRDP volunteers, the campaign will also involve members of Akhila Karnataka Janajagruthi Vedike, Yoga Sangha, Bhajana Parishat, he said adding he would personally visit some of the religious places and guide the volunteers taking part in it.

Requesting all to take part in the programme with sense of purpose and dedication, Heggade said the progress achieved will be reviewed in a month’s time. The minister for religious endowment, deputy commissioner and senior officials of the district and the state will be invited for this review meet to discuss problems faced, if any, during implementation of the programme, he said and appealed to the media to play its part in promoting the campaign among the masses.