Sri Meenakshi Amman Temple administration has decided to directly sell “deepams” (oil lamps) for being offered to Navagrahas (Gods of nine planets) to devotees.
The decision was taken following complaints of irregularities when the sale was done by contractors.
Temple Executive Officer and Joint Commissioner P Jayaraman said as per agamas “deepams should be lit for all nine grahas. Hence we have decided to sell nine deepams for Rs 20”.
There were complaints that deepams were sold at exorbitant rates by contractors.
The official said the temple planned to introduce Rs 50 special ticket separately for Sri Meenakshi Amman temple and Goddess Sundarewarar temple as devotees felt that Rs 100 special entrance ticket was very high.
Meanwhile, Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy temple also had received strong objections from devotees for increasing the special entrance fee from Rs 20 to Rs 250 without consulting local devotees, a temple official said.
