Srisailam temple management warns of action against prohibited activities in temple town

Taking a serious view of organising of New Year celebrations in one of the accommodation facility in the temple town, the Srisailam temple authorities have asked the managements of all satrams not to allow any kind of activities that defile the sanctity of the temple town and sentiments of the visiting devotees. The temple authorities warned of action, if such activities take place in the premises of the satrams or in the temple town.

The warning by the temple management came in the wake of the staff of a satram organising New Year celebrations on December 31 night during which movie songs were played and the staff danced to them. The videos went viral sparking furore among the devotees.

Srisailam temple Executive Officer M. Srinivasa Rao said it had come to their notice that birthday celebrations, English New Year celebrations, parties and events were being held in some satrams managed by private persons. “Srisailam is one of the revered shrine visited by thousands of devotees and only dharmic and spiritual activities should be organised in the temple town,” he said.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao said spiritual discourses, ‘parayanams’, bhajans, satsang and vaidic programmes were only allowed in the satrams and any activities other than these will hurt the sentiments of the devotees. “The managements of satrams should organise progammes that imbibe devotion and spirituality among the visiting devotees,” he said.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao said any activity that causes damage to the sanctity of the temple is prohibited under Section 30/1987 Endowments Act and asked the managements not to allow such activities.

It may be recalled that a woman devotee shot a reel by dancing to a folk song on the main road of the temple town and posted the same on social media causing uproar. The temple management had made it clear that unauthorised flying of drones and shooting of videos or reels is prohibited in the temple and its precincts.

The temple authorities have also decided to enhance security and vigil to curb devotees and locals from bringing liquor, non-vegetarian food and other banned products into the temple town.