Guruvayur offering through Internet

By Our Staff Reporter

THRISSUR, MAY 8. In a novel initiative, the Guruvayur Devaswom is planning to introduce facilities for enabling the devotees to make payment for their offerings and donations through Internet.

Addressing a press conference here today the devaswom managing committee chairman, Mr. Venugopala Kurup, and the administrator, Mr. K. N. Satheesh, said once this facility became operational, the devotees will be able to make payments even using credit cards.

They said at present the payment gateway for activating such a facility is available only in Kochi and the devaswom was planning to start an account with the ICICI in Kochi after getting permission from the Kerala High Court. Once such an account is started the devotees will be able utilise the facility of Internet payment.

Guruvayurappan Award

Mr. Kurup said the devaswom will reintroduce the `Guruvayurappan' Award for the persons making the best contributions in the artistic fields, which was discontinued in 1997. But now the award will be given only to one artist every year in one select field. The award will now carry a cash prize of Rs 10,000, sculpture of Lord Sree Krishna with his flute, and a citation. This year the award will be given to the best *flautist on the Ashtami Rohini Day.

The chairman said the proposed Guruvayur Sathyagriham Memorial auditorium to be constructed at a cost of Rs 3.25 crores will be completed within eight to ten months.

A five-storyed building with 58 rooms will be constructed at a cost of Rs. 88.5 lakhs near the Panchajanyam Guest House to provide accommodation to the devotees from low income groups.

There will be dormitory facilities on the upper floors of the commercial complex to be constructed with an investment of Rs. 1 crore at the Manjulal area.

Thanthri's powers

The devaswom officials asserted that the powers of the Thanthri are supreme only in the case of temple rites and the decisions of the managing committee will be final word in all other issues. This has been made clear in the Devaswom Act itself, they said.

The issue raised in the context of the reported statement of the Thanthri that final word on the purity of the ghee to be purchased by the Devaswom will be pronounced by him.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : A model park in the making
Next     : Another battle...for eve