Chennakeshava temple: '900th anniversary to be a grand affair'

Endowment minister Rudrappa Lamani on Saturday, said that the government would organise a grand function to celebrate the 900th anniversary of Chennakeshava temple in Belur, which was constructed by King Vishnuvardhana of the Hoysala dynasty.

He was speaking to reporters after offering puja at the temple. "The architecture of the Hoysalas should be popularised across the world. A grand event to mark the 900th anniversary has been planned on the lines of Sri Ramanujacharyara Sahasranamothsava in Melukote in Mandya district. I will discuss the issue with district in-charge minister A Manju," said Lamani.

The minister said, gold plating has been planned for the ‘Vimana Gopur’ of the temple of Soumyanayaki and to the ‘Dwajastamba’. A meeting has been convened on September 15 and the matter will be discussed, he added.

Temple Managing Committee president Y T Damodhar said, a few people had encroached upon the temple’s property and it has been vacated.

Retd officers to be appointed

Lamani said, the Endowment department is facing staff crunch and hence the government is thinking to appoint retired officials to manage the temples. As many as 35,000 temples come under the department and it has become difficult to manage them with the existing staff, he said.

DH News Service