Tirupati, August 22, 2013: Mana Gudi, the mass festival programme, has been dubbed by the TTD Executive Officer M.G. Gopal as an attempt to invigorate the values embedded in Arsha Dharma and spread piety among the citizens.

Speaking at the launch of the programme at Sri Padmavathi Women’s Degree College here on Wednesday, he called upon the girl students to learn the values in Hindu Sanatana Dharma and follow them religiously. The programme, conducted jointly by the TTD and the State Endowments Department to coincide with Shravana Pournami, was conducted across the State for the third time.

Nearly 13,000 temples were covered in the first phase held last year, 17,000 in the second phase and in the current third phase, the authorities have planned to cover as many as 21,000 small temples. “Temples are epicentres of spiritualism. In the past, they served as poor feeding centres, libraries, Yoga centres, maternity centres and judicial centres and it is upon us to bring back the lost glory. Only when they are protected, Mother Nature will shower prosperity on the country”, he said. He later took part in a similar programme at a Ramalayam in Kuchivaripalle in Chandragiri mandal.

Chief Vigilance and Security Officer G.V.G. Ashok Kumar, Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishat Officer on Special Duty Raghunath, Deputy EO Umapathi Reddy took part. Meanwhile, TTD Chairman K. Bapi Raju and Joint Executive Officer (Tirupati) P.Venkatrami Reddy took part in a programme conducted in Kalakur in West Godavari district, while Joint EO (Tirumala) K.S. Sreenivasa Raju participated at Veeranjaneya temple in Secunderabad.

Source: The Hindu, August 22, 2013