Latest news with #Endowmentsdepartment
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Don't politicise calf deaths; blame lies with KCR government: Telangana minister Konda Surekha
HYDERABAD: Stating that the state government responded immediately after the death of calves belonging to the Vemulawada temple, Endowments Minister Konda Surekha on Friday advised the BRS leaders not to politicise the issue. In a statement, she blamed the previous K Chandrasekhar Rao government for the death of the calves, as it failed to keep its assurances on the development of the temple and allocate funds. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has directed authorities to find a suitable site for construction of a spacious cattle shed. She recalled that the government conducted Saraswati Pushkaralu without any problem, even as 30 lakh pilgrims visited Kaleshwaram during the 12-day event. She also recalled that the government took up development of Bhadrakali temple in Hanamkonda. The 'Kalvakuntla Dandu Palyam batch' which neglected temples was spewing venom on the development works of the Endowments department, she alleged. If the KCR government released Rs 100 crore as promised, the animal shed would have been developed by now, the minister pointed out.
New Indian Express
03-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Former Basara temple priest Ganesh Sharma Dravid appointed 71st pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam
NIZAMABAD: The appointment of Ganesh Sharma Dravid as the 71st pontiff (Sri Guru Sathya Chandrasekhara Saraswathi) of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam has drawn attention in Basara, Nirmal district. Vedic priest Kandikota Naveen Sharma from the Sri Gyana Saraswathi Devi temple welcomed the appointment and recalled his past association with the new pontiff. Ganesh Sharma, originally from Annavaram in Andhra Pradesh, served at the Basara temple between 2022 and 2024. He was appointed by the state Endowments department after Vedic training and spent much of his life in Hyderabad. Social media posts recently highlighted his earlier role as Rigveda Asthana Vidwan at Basara. Naveen Sharma said Ganesh Sharma had strong knowledge of the Rugveda and maintained good relations with temple staff. 'We were close colleagues. None of us expected him to become the successor of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam,' he said. The Basara temple, about 36 km from Nizamabad, regularly attracts devotees from across the Telugu states, especially during Vasantha Panchami and examination season. Many bring their children for the Aksharabhyasam ritual. Some also observe 41-day deekshas at the temple. There is a belief that the idol of Saraswathi was installed by Vedavyasa Maharshi and that Lord Nrusimha Saraswathi once visited the temple. With Sharma's connection to Basara now public, temple authorities expect increased footfall.
The Hindu
29-04-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Arrangements in place for annual ‘Chandanotsavam' at Simhachalam
The stage is set for the biggest annual festival — Chandanotsavam — at Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple at Simhachalam, here, on April 30. It is only this day of the year that devotees can have 'Nijaroopa darshanam' as the thick sandalwood covering on the idol will be removed. The festivities would begin with 'Suprabhatam' at 1 a.m. (early hours of Wednesday), followed by Viswaksena puja, Punyavachanam, Ritwikgvaranam, Panchakalavahanam and Chananottaram. Hereditary trustee of the temple P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju and his family members would be the first to have darshan, as per tradition in practice at the temple, at 3 a.m. It would be followed by a representative of the Endowments department offering 'pattu vastrams' to the deity, on behalf of the State government. This would be followed by presentation of 'pattu vastrams' (silk robes) by the TTD following by darshan by VVIPs and VIPs. Devotees will be allowed to get a darshan of the deity from 4 a.m. Protocol VIPs will be allowed to have darshan from 5 a.m. to 6 a.m. and 8.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. There will be no 'ashirvachanams' and 'antaralaya' darshanam on April 30. The queue lines would be closed at 7 p.m. and devotees who have already entered the queue would be allowed darshan of the deity till the end of the last person standing in the queue. Devotees going for 'free darshan' and ₹300, ₹1,000 and ₹1,500 ticket holders would be allowed to have darshan from the 'Neeladri mandapam'. The 'Nijarupa darshanam' would conclude with 'abhishekam' and other Vedic rituals at 11 p.m. RTC will provide free bus services from 4.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. for devotees going up and coming down the hill. The RTC buses will not ferry passengers from the foothill to the hilltop after 6 p.m. They will however continue to ferry passengers from the hilltop to the foothill even after 6 p.m. Meanwhile, District Collector MN Harendhira Prasad and Joint Collector K. Mayur Ashok inspected the arrangements for the Chandanotsavam festival on Tuesday (April 29). The Collector directed the officials concerned to arrange water, biscuits and buttermilk for devotees in the queue lines and milk for children. Mobile toilets should be provided on the hill and at the foothill for the convenience of devotees. He directed Medical and Health authorities to conduct medical camps and keep ambulances ready in case of any emergency.
