JOIN USSrikanteshwara temple in Nanjangud, popularly known as Dakshina Kashi, is an 'A' grade temple, that earns crores of rupees annually. However, devotees coming from far off places are left in the lurch as there is no adequate accommodation facility in the temple town.
The devotees coming from far off places for festivals and rathotsava have to spend the nights on the streets, braving the chilly weather. Hundreds of tourists, who descended on the temple during 'Hosthila Hunnime' recently, were seen occupying the temple corridors and the streets to spend the night.
The temple has 24 rooms in its Girija Kalyan Mantap, constructed with the donations offered by the devotees, and a dormitory that can accommodate 180 people. With the number of devotees visiting the temple rising every year, the temple administrative board, department of Muzrai and Religious Endowment has not taken any steps in this regard, complained the devotees.
Speaking to DH, Temple Executive Officer Kumaraswamy said, the temple is earning an average of Rs one crore every month through collection from offering boxes. If the various 'sevas', special ticket, parking fee, chappal stand fee are taken into account, it crosses Rs 20 crore anually. The temple administration has deposited Rs 90 crore in the bank, so far, this year. The permission of Muzrai department is required to take up development works, he said.
The temple had witnessed a little development during the tenure of S M Krishna, as chief minister. However, the second phase of development of constructing a guest house is yet to be taken up.
Someshwarappa, a devotee from Tumakuru, said, "Lord Srikanteshwara is our family deity. We visited the temple for 'Hunnime seve' recently. But, there is no proper accommodation facility. Private hotels fleece the devotees, demanding Rs 1,200 per day for a single room. We had to spend the night on the road, he explained.
Dalit Sangharsha Samiti leader Shankarapura Suresh said, in the first phase, a commercial complex, on the lines of Tirupati was constructed. As it has not been put to use, 14 shops were converted into rooms. But, they are not provided to the devotees. The authorities should make accommodation facility at Srikanteshwara Kala Bhavan, being constructed on the temple premises, as a temporary measure, he opined.