BHAKTI FLYING HIGH AS TEMPLE INCOME SURGES IN TEMPLES

C R GOWRI SHANKER

Small and big temples across the state are overflowing with cash
and other devotee offerings.

Sudden surge in cash offerings in temple at Telangana

Hyderabad: Major temples across Telangana state have seen a sudden surge in cash offerings, ahead of the final hundi count for the 2015-16 financial year that will be taken up after March 31.

The hundi and other revenues at the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple at Yadadri touched Rs 74 crore by January. The temple had earned Rs 76.68 crore last year.

“We are sure to cross Rs 80 crore this financial year,” Yadadri temple executive officer Geetha told this newspaper.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had earmarked Rs100 crore to develop the temple, 70 km from Hyderabad, and the work is in progress. Mr Rao wants to promote the temple on the lines of the Venkateswara temple at Tirumala.

“The Chief Minister gave a big push to Yadadri and other temples. This has led to an increase in income of major temples. The government is trying to provide the best possible amenities to pilgrims,” said government adviser K.V.Ramanachary.

The hugely successful Godavari Pushkaralu, during which lakhs of people took a holy dip and visited major temples, boosted the temples’ earnings.Officials expect a similar effect from the Krishna Pushkaralu later this year.

Temple incomes are rising 10% annually in Hyderabad

 Rs 6 crore Peddamma Temple, Jubilee Hills.

Hyderabad: The famed 150-year-old Peddamma temple in Jubilee Hills is the richest in the city, with an income of Rs 6 crore so far followed by the Renuka Yellamma temple at Balkampet and the Ganesh temple near Secunderabad railway station with Rs 4 crore.

Of the 4,000 temples in the twin cities, 771 in Hyderabad and 284 in Secunderabad are registered with the endowments department.

“Over the years, temple incomes have gone up. Bhakti is certainly growing among the people” said Mr Ashok Goud, assistant commissioner, Hyderabad, of the endowments department.

He said that the department has not yet assessed the income from all temples in the twin cities. The numbers will be added up in April.
“But I can safely say it will be on par or even more than the GHMC budget,” Mr Goud said. The GHMC budget stands at about Rsw 5,000 crore. Most of the revenue comes from the hundi collection, followed by the sale of tickets for various sevas and prasadams.

“Recently, a devotee dropped Rs 10 lakh in the hundi of the Venkateswara Swamy temple at Chikkadpally. There are several devotees who contribute huge amounts to temples,” he said.

March 2 and  6, 2016