Ongole, August 5, 2013: In an effort to promote visits to temples, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams(TTD) and the Hindu Religious and Endowments Department will jointly conduct ‘Mana Gudi’ programme in 348 temples in Prakasam district on August 21, coinciding with Sravana Pournami.

Mr. Alahari Chanchala Rao, President of the Prakasam District Dharma Prachara Parishad(DPP) constituted by the TTD revealed this at DPP’s first meeting here on Sunday. “We have identified 25 temples for carrying out repairs ahead of the programme”, he added.

The first DPP meeting attended by 32 newly nominated members of the DPP at the Santhapeta Saibaba temple began after offering prayers to Lord Venkateswara.

“We planned to rope in more and more private temples in organising the programme on a grand scale”, said its Secretary Ponnuri Venkata Srinivasulu after release of the wall poster for the programme. Enmasse Satyanarayana Vratham would be organised on the occasion, he said.

The focus of the Managudi programme would be on reaching out to Dalit habitations, Chenchugudems and fishermen colonies and protect the Hindu dharma under threat due to western cultural onslaught, he explained.

Source: The Hindu, DT. August 5, 2013.