Mangaluru: As the historic temple of South India, Sri Polali Rajarajeshwari Temple, which attracts lakhs of devotees from across the globe every year, is completely renovated with a meticulously carved history of the temple around its walls. The ‘Brahmakalashotsav’ of the temple is being held from March 4 to 13.

From the day the programme began, i.e, from March 4, the temple is witnessing a constant increase in number of devotees visiting the temple, as well as donating offerings at the temple.

The ritualistic programme has also been a witness to some of nature friendly technology, manpower management and systematic arrangements.

The temple authority has installed a recycling plant, which can hold 50,000 litres of water.

This plant will help in recycling the waste water from the toilets, Phalguni Guest House of the temple, and Sarwa Mangala marriage hall.

Over 30,000 families donate offerings, one-acre land allotted
According to the temple sources over 30,000 families have offered vegetables, rice and other necessary ingredients for prasadam and other materials required for the Brahmakalasha programme. All the commodities have already reached the temple and the inflow continues. One acre land has been allotted to accommodate the offerings that are received.

Each family or individual who has donated offerings are given a certificate as a token of appreciation.

Systematic food serving and volunteer service
Hundreds and thousands of devotees are participating in the ‘Anna Santarpane’ (ritualistic mass meal). It is estimated that several lakhs of devotees may have had relished the meals at the temple by the end of the event. The food is served till mid night and then by 7 am the devotees are served breakfast. Lunch is served at 12 noon and snacks are served around 3 pm. Over 200 professional cooks are deployed along with 10,000 volunteers who are working day in and day out.

Volunteers are divided into groups with specific responsibilities. About 75 of them are given in-charge of the kitchen, and around 200 teams are given the responsibility of handling the offerings, unloading them from the vehicles and arranging them in order.

Maroli Sri Surya Narayana Temple and Sri Patanjali Yoga Shikshana Samithi have taken the responsibility of maintaining cleanliness in the surroundings.

Around 43 old style cooking facility and over 15 gas stove based cooking is being setup. As a provision for drinking water 2 lakh water bottles of 300 ml and thousands of water cans have been installed in place. Laddu and Mysore Pak are served as sweet prasadam for every devotee who visits the temple.

Devotees are given a memento of a copper engraved ‘Dhwaja Stambha’, made from the copper that was used for the old structure of the temple. These are laminated and given to the devotees and the artistes who perform in the cultural programme of Brahmakalasha.

The temple was handed over to the temple authority on Tuesday, March 5.

Photo Courtesy – Reflections, Prasanna Rai Photography