A Film Fest Highlights Conditions Of Hindu Temples

"This is the first step. We will hold such festivals every year not just in India but also in other countries, especially in the U.S. as Telugu NRIs are keen to contribute their mite for this noble cause," Gazal Srinivas, a popular Telugu gazal singer and the brand ambassador of the save temple movement, said.
 
The singer said the short films and documentaries screened during the festival not only depicted many problems faced by the temples but threw up ideas how they can be tackled.
 
"There is corruption in temples from the entry ticket to the prasadam. It is because they are under the endowments department," said Srinivas, who holds a Guinness World Record for singing in the most languages at one concert.
 
"We want governments to hand over all temples to peethadipatis (mutt heads) because they can't be maintained by employees. The management has to be in accordance with Vedas and Agamashastras. The peethadipatis should be made CEOs of these temples. They are already running several temples without corruption," he said.
 
Srinivas is worried that it is not just the structures of the ancient temples which are under threat due to neglect and encroachments but the temple culture itself is getting eroded.
 
"Many priests are leaving their profession because of financial problems. Their children are not interested in the profession. The situation is so pathetic that if nothing is done temples may close down," he said.
 
"I think after 30 or 40 years robots will do archana (rituals). Many temples have already removed mangalavadhyams (musical instruments). They are playing CDs for Suprabhata seva and other sevas," he rued.

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