Temple priests hold meeting to find solution to competing demands by rival politicians
Temple priests hold meeting to find solutionu00a0 to competing demands by rival politicians
Thanks to the rising number of poojas performed in the build up to the Lok Sabha polls by politicians, overworked temple priests in Bangalore had a tough time scheduling the poojas.
"Every election, we face the same problem. All politicians appear to want the same pooja at the same time and we find it difficult to say no," said a member of the Agam Athreya Mahamandala, an association of temple priests.
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Dear God: Ananth Kumar visits a temple in Banashankari before filing hisu00a0 nomination (above) while Yeddyurappa seeks the blessings of an elephant (below) file pics |
The most sought after service is the 'prasada vinayoga' which involves serving lunch to devotees visiting the temple. "Politicians attempt to flaunt their power by serving a variety of dishes like pulligore and curd-rice on the occasion. When the meal is sumptuous, people admire the donator," he said.
It is worse on auspicious days. "For instance, if the Congress candidate books the prasada vinayoga, some other party like the BJP may come late and ask for the same booking. Since the BJP is in power we can't refuse, and we can't cancel the earlier bookings. Priests get into a fix in such situations," he said.
The Mahamandala met yesterday and worked out a solution. "While those who come first get to serve food, the late comers, get to perform the pullagi seva and prakara, which involves decorating the main idol with flowers and a parikrama of a decorated chariot around the temple," said a priest.
