Telangana: Gods vouching for a separate state?

Hyderabad, Sept 27: The Telangana stir which has entered its 15th day has hit temples as priests have shut down the temples in support of a separate state.

Hundreds of temples across the region including Hyderabad have stopped their 'Arjitha sevas' and many other special rituals except for 'darshan' following the instructions from the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Telangana priests and employees of endowment department, which handles the affairs of temples.

Upendra Sharma, leader, JAC and a temple priest said that the action was taken keeping in mind the aspirations of people who were fighting for a separate state - Telangana.

The officials of the endowment departments however said that the protest would hit the temple income to a large extent. It is estimated that the strike would likely result in a loss of Rs 4-5 lakh.

Sri Lakshminarasimha Swamy Temple situated at Yadagirigutta, Nalgonda district also famously called as the Tirupati of Telangana, looked deserted after the temple was shut down for all rituals.

Other famous temples in the region like Vemulawada, Bhadrachalam and Basar were also hit by the strike. Many temples in Warangal, Mahabubnagar and Karimnagar districts are also shut down since Sep 13.

Rajarajeswari Swami temple at Vemulawada, Karimnagar district has suffered a loss of Rs 60 lakh so far.

The famous Thousand Pillar temple in Warangal, Jogulamba at Alampur, Mahabubnagar district and the Bhadrakali temple also were closed for two weeks.

OneIndia News