Performing last rites at old chowltry, a menace

Rajamahendravaram: People coming from across the country to perform final rites to their kith and kin have been facing many problems in the age old 'Khambham Choultry,' due to lack of sufficient accommodation and leakages in ceiling in some rooms. The choultry is the only one in South India for performing last rites.

Speaking to ‘The Hans India’ here on Monday, noted ‘apara purohit’ Bhgavathi Narayana Sastry (Bobby) said that out of eight rooms, four of them were being allotted for the people, who arrive here to perform ‘karma kandalu’. The remaining four rooms were being used for the rites, he said.

The water leakage from ceiling in room Nos 9, 10, 11 and 12 has been causing inconvenience to people while conducting the rituals. Due to lack of accommodation, the visitors had been opting hotels and other choultries.

The Rajamahendravaram Municipal Corporation, which constructed a building two years ago adjacent to this old choultry, did not open the same. The corporation has been charging an amount of Rs 200 per room towards rent. The ‘purohits’ have also been paying an amount of Rs 100 to the corporation for using it.

Purohit Narayanaya Sastry underscored the need to open a new building for performing the monthly and annual ceremonies apart from last rites as usual in the existing building. Many visitors have been questioning the purohits the reasons for not using the new building. They are also requesting authorities to allow rituals in new building as conducting last rites and annual ceremonies in the same old rooms had become difficult.

Khambham Narasinga Rao who had worked in collectorate between1845 and1852 dug a tank and constructed the choultry for performing last rites.
years in Rajamahendravaram