Ongole, August 22, 2013: In an effort to rekindle interest in people on temple visits, ‘Mana Gudi’ programme was organised in 385 temples in Prakasam district on Wednesday jointly by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams and the Hindu Religious and Endowments Department to mark the auspicious ‘Sravana Nakshtram’ day, the birth star of Lord Venkateswara.

Inaugurating the programme at the Prasanna Chennakeshavaswami temple here, Joint Collector K.Yaqub Naik stressed the need for temple visits by people to lead a stress-free life.

Children should make it a habit to visit temple every day.

Over 1000 students patiently waited in a long queue to receive ‘Raksha kankanams’ and prasadams specially arranged from Tirumala, from temple priests on the occasion.

Revenue Division Officer M.S. Murali, Prakasam District Dharma Prachara Parishad (DPP) president Alahari Chenchala Rao DPP secretary Ponnuri Venkata Srinivasulu joined the devotees in holding the celebrations in over 35 temples in the city, both department-run and privately managed ones, including the Santhapeta Sai Baba temple here.

Source: The Hindu, August 22, 2013