As the ‘kumkum’ offered to devotees at many temples is found to be of poor quality, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department has decide to set up its own manufacturing units at important temples.
HR&CE Minister P. Chendur Pandian told the Assembly that machines to make ‘kumkum’ would be set up at the Meenakshi-Sundareshwarar Temple in Madurai, the Mariammal temple at Samayapuram, the Bannari Amman temple in Erode district and the Karumari Amman temple at Tiruverkadu near Chennai.
A senior HR&CE official said the Department had received many complaints that the ‘kumkum’ offered at many temples was adulterated, causing permanent marks on the forehead of devotees. “The best quality ‘kumkum’ can be produced by having both tamarind and lemon in an equal ratio. Some manufactures add materials like burnt rice husk,” he said.
Replying to the debate on the demands for grants for his Department, Mr. Pandian said ‘mandapams’ to accommodate devotees would be constructed at Vallalar Deiva Nilayam in Cuddalore district, the Karumari Amman Temple at Tiruverkadu and the Masani Amman Temple at Anaimalai in Coimbatore district. The project would cost Rs. 3.59 crore.
Property to be fencedThe government will fence the property of five temples, including the Vaschiswaraswamy Temple at Tirupachur, attached to the Tirutani Murugan Temple, the Meenkshi-Sundareshwarar Temple in Madurai and the Naganathaswamy Temple at Kumbakonam, he said.
Toilets and bathroomsThe government would also construct toilets, bathrooms and a paver-block to accommodate the vehicles of devotees at the Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple at Rameswaram at a cost of Rs. 1.01 crore, he said. Another paver-block, costing Rs.38 lakh, would be constructed at the Murugan Temple at Palani.
