Latest news with #AnnaPrasadam
Hans India
3 days ago
- General
- Hans India
Consistent efforts to serve quality meals strike a chord with scores of devotees
Visakhapatnam: 'Annidanala kanna, annadanam minna' (serving food is considered as a great service compared to any other form of charity). And it is the same 'adage' the Simhachalam Devasthanam has been following without any compromise for the past 36 years. Along with darshan of Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy, Simhachalam Devasthanam reminds one of the flavourful 'annadanam' the temple serves to its devotees. The Devasthanam launched the 'Nitya Annadanam' scheme 36 years ago with a strong belief that 'Annadanam' is superior compared to any other service. In 1989, August 14, a group of temple employees donated Rs 50,000 to initiate the Nitya Annadanam scheme. Back then, the inauguration of the scheme was organised under the aegis of the then temple Executive Officer G.V. Narasimha Murthy. In 1989, the Devasthanam employees collected a total of Rs 50,000 as their first donation. The seed sown 36 years back reaped bountiful fruits over the years as the devotees' immense faith, deposits of crores of donations plus the interest earned on them resulted in an uninterrupted execution of Annadanam, satiating the hunger pangs of scores of devotees who arrive at the temple. Without compromising on quality standards, the scheme's focus has also been on consistent maintenance of the taste for decades. This is one of the main reasons for the scheme to become successful. Those who savoured the meal in the Devasthanam have one thing to convey, 'There is something 'divine' about the food served in Simhachalam Devasthanam as it is so flavourful.' As per the instructions of the temple's hereditary trustee and Goa Governor Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju, temple officials focused on improving the cleanliness and spiritual atmosphere of the temple surroundings and Annadanam Bhavanam premises. For the financial year of 2024-25, the deposit amount reached Rs 36.45 crore, while the interest earned on it is Rs 2.09 crore. With the interest accrued alone, Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy's Anna Prasadam scheme is being implemented in an uninterrupted manner. According to temple records, since the inception of the scheme, five donors donated Rs 10 lakh or more each. There are 1,217 donors, who have donated Rs 1 lakh and above. This year alone, more than one million devotees savoured the Anna Prasadam, informed Vendra Trinadha Rao, Executive Officer of the Devasthanam. On special occasions like 'Vaikuntha Ekadasi', annual Kalyanam, 'Chandannotsavam', 'Giri Pradakshina', special Anna Prasadam arrangements have been made additionally to lakhs of devotees. In coordination with Devasthanam assistant executive officer Vadrevu Ramana Murthy, supervising officer Paluri Narasinga Rao and the staff, steps have been taken to ensure quality food is served to the devotees in a hassle-free manner. As the Annaprasadam scheme enters its 37th year, the Executive Officer of the Devasthanam expressed his gratitude to the donors who continue to support the scheme.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- New Indian Express
Srisailam temple witnesses heavy weekend rush
KURNOOL: Srisailam temple town witnessed a rush of devotees over the long weekend, which coincided with Varalakshmi Vratam on Friday, followed by the second Saturday and Sunday, and the auspicious Sravana Masam. Temple authorities said that over two lakh devotees had darshan of Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy and Ammavaru in the past 48 hours, with the figure expected to reach three lakh by Monday. On Sunday, streets, queue lines, and the premises of Sri Bramarambha Mallikarjuna Swamy temple were packed with pilgrims from across Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring states. General darshan took around five to six hours, while special darshan took three to four hours. Several VIPs and their families also offered prayers. Executive Officer (EO) M Srinivasa Rao said elaborate arrangements were in place to provide accommodation, drinking water, and free Anna Prasadam. 'We ensured all facilities are in place and that no pilgrim faces inconvenience. Even the guidelines for drinking water and food distribution were strictly followed,' he stated. Despite preparations, temple staff faced challenges in managing the crowds, but special teams of officials were deployed to maintain smooth operations. Meanwhile, the Srisailam dam area also attracted huge crowds, leading to heavy traffic congestion. Sunnipenta Police deployed drones for real-time monitoring.
Time of India
06-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Devotees offer sarees and prayers at Kanaka Durga Temple during Ashada Saare festival
1 2 Vijayawada: A sea of devotees thronged the Sri Kanaka Durga Temple atop Indrakeeladri on Sunday as part of the annual Ashada Saare offering. Thousands of women, in colourful groups and processions, reached the temple with traditional offerings — silk sarees, bangles, flowers, fruits, and pongal — symbolically treating Goddess Kanaka Durga as their daughter. The temple premises were packed from early morning, and special arrangements were made to handle the heavy influx of devotees. Temple authorities cancelled VIP and Special Entry Darshans, ensuring only Lagu Darshan (fast-track darshan) was available for the public. Around eight special counters were set up across various locations to collect the saree offerings from devotees. Executive officer (EO) Seena Nayak personally oversaw arrangements, managing queues and directing volunteers across key areas. The EO also inspected the offerings of vegetables and fruits made by devotees ahead of the upcoming Shakambari festival, scheduled from July 8 to 10. He encouraged devotees to donate fresh produce for the decoration of the deity during the three-day celebration. To ensure smooth flow, the temple administration deployed staff along the lift routes, queue lines, and Ghat Road, which witnessed massive footfall. EO Nayak confirmed that protocol darshans were suspended from 11:30 a.m. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like One of the Most Successful Investors of All Time, Warren Buffett, Recommends: 5 Books for Turning... Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Click Here Undo to 2:00 p.m., prioritising regular devotees during peak hours. Adequate drinking water, free prasadam distribution, and Anna Prasadam were also arranged. In an effort to prevent overcharging, the EO said staff were deployed at cloakrooms, footwear storage, and coconut crushing counters. Congested areas were identified using CCTV surveillance, and temple staff were dispatched immediately to control crowd flow.
Hans India
03-06-2025
- General
- Hans India
Jogulamba Shakti Peetha: A Heritage Site in Desperate Need of Attention
Gadwal: The Jogulamba Temple—recognized as the fifth among the revered 18 Shakti Peethas in the country—continues to draw devotees in large numbers. However, despite significant donations pouring in regularly, the temple suffers from inadequate facilities and underdeveloped infrastructure, raising serious concerns among visitors and locals alike. Located in the newly-formed Jogulamba Gadwal district, the temple gained prominence following the reorganization of districts in Telangana. The presiding deity, Goddess Jogulamba, is enshrined in a vast and spiritually significant location that holds immense potential for tourism development. Yet, despite these advantages, the temple has not seen the infrastructural progress it deserves, largely due to the apathy of political leadership—both past and present. Leadership Apathy & Political Neglect Locals and observers note that successive Chief Ministers have failed to prioritize the temple's development. Moreover, the lack of initiative from local elected representatives has also contributed to the stagnation. Some analysts argue that the fact that the Alampur constituency is reserved for Scheduled Castes has led to political sidelining, impacting developmental efforts. Glorious Past, Present Neglect Alampur is often referred to as the "Dakshina Kashi" (Southern Kashi), and it boasts a rich heritage including the famous Nava Brahma temples. These temples, dedicated to various forms of Lord Shiva, were once architectural marvels. However, during the rule of the Nawabs, many of these structures were destroyed and have yet to be restored to their original glory. Many temples today remain in a dilapidated condition, much to the dismay of visiting devotees. Where Are the Donations Going? Despite the influx of donations from devotees and prominent personalities across states, allegations have emerged that these funds are being mismanaged or diverted. Devotees complain that the benefits of their contributions are not reflected in the on-ground development or in the enhancement of pilgrim facilities. Poor Facilities: A Deep Disappointment One of the most pressing concerns is the poor state of the 'Anna Prasadam' distribution system. Despite daily offerings of large donations, the temple can only accommodate around 40 people at a time in its prasadam hall. This forces many pilgrims to wait for hours to receive free meals. This is particularly disheartening given the volume of visitors the temple attracts. Stalled Progress Under the Prasad Scheme To address such issues, the central government had sanctioned the construction of modern facilities under the PRASAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual Augmentation Drive) scheme. Prime Minister Narendra Modi even virtually inaugurated these buildings. However, to date, these facilities have not been made operational, leaving devotees questioning the efficiency of the implementation process. Call for Immediate Action Being the only Shakti Peetha in Telangana, and the fifth in the country, Jogulamba Temple holds immense religious and cultural importance. Visitors, locals, and devotees are now urging temple authorities, district administrators, and political leaders to wake up to the needs of the temple and take immediate corrective action to restore its sanctity and service standards.
India Today
02-05-2025
- India Today
Tirupati temple board launches WhatsApp-based system for pilgrims' feedback
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has launched a new WhatsApp-based feedback system aimed at streamlining how feedback is collected from pilgrims visiting Tirumala and Tirupati. The digital initiative is designed to enhance transparency, service quality, and overall devotee satisfaction across temple services and can now submit their feedback by scanning QR codes displayed at multiple locations throughout Tirumala and Tirupati. Once scanned, the QR code directs users to a WhatsApp interface, where they are guided through a simple, step-by-step feedback submission will be asked to enter their name, select a service category; such as Anna Prasadam, Cleanliness, Kalyan Katta, Laddu Prasadam, Luggage, Rooms, Q-Line, or Overall Experience and choose the feedback format: either a text message or a video upload. They can then rate the service as 'Good', 'Average/Could Be Better', or 'Not Good', and provide additional comments up to 600 characters or upload a supporting video. Upon submission, users will receive a confirmation message stating, 'Your feedback has been recorded successfully. Thank you for the valuable feedback.'TTD management has assured that all feedback will be reviewed carefully and necessary steps will be taken to resolve issues and upgrade services where needed. The system is part of TTD's ongoing commitment to ensuring a spiritually enriching and seamless experience for by Disha Maloo IN THIS STORY#Andhra Pradesh
