Not mandatory for temples to offer rain poojas – Muzrai minister

Not mandatory for temples to offer rain poojas – Muzrai minister

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Jul 23, 2012: Interacting with reporters after inaugurating his office in Rajatadri, Muzrai Minister Kota Shrinivas Poojary clarified that no temple is forced to offer poojas for rains although the government has instructed the Muzrai Department to direct temples to offer poojas for rains.

Further clarifying the issue, he said that the funds for the poojas will not be from the state treasury, but from the income earned by respective temples. He also said that the government is taking all the required steps to tackle drought situation in 135 taluks all over Karnataka.

Stating that nearly 25,000 temples are economically fit enough to conduct poojas, he said that the other temples can offer pooja in a simple manner by just offering tender coconuts and water. He also said that 155 temples have an annual income of Rs. 25 lakh, 143 temples have an annual income ranging from Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 25 lakh, and the other temples have an annual income of below Rs. 5 lakh, adding that pooja expenses were fixed for Rs. 5,000 to prevent temples from holding lavish ceremonies.

The minister said that he will schedule a meeting with port officials in Bangalore on July 24, Tuesday to discuss port issues and development activities in the district, adding that state funds will be requested for the development of ports and to deal with sea erosion.

Urging political parties, officials, and the public to cooperate with him, he said that he will be available in his office for one or one-and-a-half-day per week.

Somashekar Bhat, BJP leader, inaugurated the district-in-charge minister’s office in the presence of MLA K. Raghupathi Bhat, DC Dr. M. T. Reju, Lalaji R. Mendon, ZP CEO S. A. Prabhakar Sharma, TP President Devdas Hebbar, Upendra Nayak, BJP District President K. Uday Kumar Shetty, and others.