Siddhivinayak Temple To Ban Coconut, Garlands, 'Prasad' For Security Reasons
The management of Mumbai's famous Siddhivinayak temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha on Friday said it will not allow coconuts, garlands and 'prasad' for offerings from May 11 for security reasons.
The temple located in Prabhadevi area of south Mumbai is a popular religious site that attracts a large number of devotees.
Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir Trust's chairman Sada Sarvankar said thousands of people visit the temple everyday and it is on the hit list of terrorists. A senior police official held a meeting with the trust recently.
"We get many advisories from the government as well as the police. Of the safety measures, they said the coconuts that are offered to Lord Ganesh are not detected during security screening and this could lead to danger. The prasad could be poisoned. To avoid this, we will not allow garlands and coconut to be offered to the deity for the time being," he said.
The measure, he said, is a temporary one considering the hostilities between India and Pakistan.
Mr Sarvankar said the temple trust spoke to flower vendors outside the temple who requested to start the initiative from May 11 so that they can finish their existing stock.
The former Shiv Sena MLA also said the temple trust is also trying to see if it can make available flowers and 'durva' grass, believed to be the favourite of Lord Ganesha, for devotees so that they can offer it to the deity.
He said in an enhanced security measure, the trust will also recruit 20 retired armed forces personnel and they will be armed. Safety of devotees is the responsibility of the police and the temple trust, Mr Sarvankar said.
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