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Sad state of Maisamma temple irks devotees
The famous ‘Fatehpur Maisamma’ temple at Kakarlapahad village, about eight kilometres on the outskirts of Mahbubnagar headquarters, is lacking basic facilities for the devotees.
Mahbubnagar: The famous ‘Fatehpur Maisamma’ temple at Kakarlapahad village, about eight kilometres on the outskirts of Mahbubnagar headquarters, is lacking basic facilities for the devotees.
Every week more than 1.2 lakh devotees visit here to offer prayers for the deity. Fatehpur Maisamma also called as ‘Parvatapur Maisamma Devata’ is particularly famous among vehicle owners in the district.
Whoever buys a new vehicle, such as bike, car, tractor, lorry, JCB, bus etc, makes it a must to offer ‘shanti pooja’ by sacrificing a goat or a sheep at this famous temple.
“Though the Maisamma temple is more than 100 years old and famous among the devotees, the real development activities have picked up since 4-5 years only,” said Narasimhulu, a watchman-cum-sweeper who has been working for more than 15 years at the temple.
Though the temple is having good road connectivity from the district headquarters, the facilities provided at the temple such as shelter sheds, drinking water and other amenities are not adequate to meet the heavy rush of the devotees.
The temple area is spread over about 30 acres and the devotees who come there with their vehicles have to sit under trees shades. If it is rainy season, the woes of the devotees are even more. “There are about five to six rooms for devotees, but that is not adequate.
About 10,000-30,000 devotees come on the week days and they are forced to clear the trees and bushes around the temple for taking shelter and cooking food. Similarly, the temple also needs a slaughter house, for sacrificing the animals.
“The road around the temple is not wide enough for bringing in large vehicles like tractors, JCBs, lorries and buses for performing shanti pooja,” says Venkatesh, a devotee, who had come here to offer shanti pooja for his newly bought tractor.
When questioned about the rationality behind animal sacrifice for doing shanti pooja to the deity, Hemla Naik, another devotee said, “It is only a belief among the people. It is believed that whoever makes a wish, Fatehpur Maisamma will surely fulfil it. I have two tractors. Earlier, I used to face frequent accidents. After performing shanti pooja, I am doing good business and even overcame all my debts.”
The pujari, Veeraiah Chari, who performs shanti pooja for hundreds of vehicles on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays, says, “The temple is more than a century old in the reserve forest area. I have been serving as a priest for 15 years and have seen many changes at this temple.
The rush at the temple has increased during the past 5-6 years with the increase in automobiles in the district.” At present, the temple is under government control and an endowment officer is appointed. There are five temple priests and three sweepers and a watchman looking after the temple. However, the development works at the temple site are not adequate.
