Govt plans to make temple towns centres of growth

Vijayawada: The State government is planning to turn temples into growth centres by developing the surroundings of all major temples as health, education and spiritual centres. Addressing a review meeting of Endowments officials at his camp office here on Friday, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said that the temple towns should also house educational institutions, spiritual centres, yoga and wellness centres and Ayush centres (for health) so that an entire ecosystem will be created in the region.

He said the wellness and spiritual centres will develop a positive attitude among people. They will reduce health problems thus bringing down the spending on health care. The Chief Minister directed the Endowments Department to make Annadanam, Vidyadanam and Pranadanam as part of the temple activity. He said Annadanam should be mandatory in every temple.

“No person in the temple surroundings should go hungry. We should be able to feed every person in the vicinity. Simultaneously, hygiene and sanitation should be maintained along with beautification and landscaping,” Naidu said.The Chief Minister also underscored the need to protect endowment lands in the State. He asked the officials to come up with innovative ways of developing parks and sports facilities in these areas to protect them.

Stating that temples should become part of people’s lives, the Chief Minister suggested that on the occasions of birth, marriage and death, temples priests should take initiative to visit the houses of those and perform rituals.The CM said if a baby is born, the priest from that village can visit their house and bless them. Similar practice can be followed for marriages. In case of death, they can perform the Shuddhi Puja and other rituals. This practice of connecting with people will bring goodwill.

Stay updated on the go with The Hans India News App. Click the icons to download it for your device.