Puja items being sold at fair price stalls in and around the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple have evoked a good response among devotees. The fair price stalls to sell puja items have been initiated by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department across 10 temples in the State from July 1.
“This facility is convenient as the stalls have been placed at accessible points. Earlier, we were often forced to bargain with vendors and hawkers who priced puja articles at exorbitant prices,” said S. Akhila, a devotee from S.S. Colony.
A packet of ‘Kunkumam’ and ‘Vibuthi’ each, two bananas, one coconut, betel leaves and nut in a plastic bowl or a non-woven bag is being sold at Rs.50.
The stalls are functioning at five points near the ‘gopurams’ outside the temple and the puja items are also being sold at three vantage points inside the temple.
“With the present system, devotees can have a hassle-free darshan,” said N. Natarajan, Executive Officer of the Meenakshi Temple.
“We sell close to 150 baskets on a daily basis and can expect to sell more on auspicious days and festivals,” said a vendor at a stall near the west tower of the temple.
Solar panelsAuthorities of the Meenakshi temple are currently examining the feasibility of installing solar panels in the temple to meet the electricity needs.
“We are initially planning to install panels to the capacity of 10 Kilo Watt and the proposal is in tender stage,” said Mr. Natarajan said.
“We initially thought of fixing a few panels near the temple offices on a trial basis and then expand the same based on outcome,” he added.
The tender for the pilot process is expected to be finalised by the end of this month and the installation of the panels will then begin.
