From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jun 11: What do offering pujas and other 'sevas' at temples have in common with a mouse?
Well, for the devotees of Lord Ganesha, quite a lot because mouse is the vehicle of the God with the head of an elephant and is popularly known as the deity to ward off evils.
But for the netizens mouse is associated with computers. True, the younger generation or GenNext have given up using the mouse for browsing purposes. Still, mouse and computers are commonly associated.
However, a new and novel initiative by Karnataka’s Endowment Department in association with e-Governance Department is set to change all that.
Under the new initiative, devotees will be able to make payments for 'sevas' or pujas and other religious services in as many as 11 major temples coming under the purview of Karnataka’s Muzrai Department at the click of the mouse!
Devotes can log on towww.bangaloreone.gov.in and can book temple services online.
The 11 major temples coming under the control of the State’s Muzrai Department, which are part of the new initiative include as many as FOUR in the undivided coastal Dakshina Kannada district: KollurMookambika, KukkeSubramanya, Kateel Sri DurgaParameshwari and Mandarti Sri DurgaParameshari.
The other temples covered in the novel initiative are: MM Hills, Male Mahadeshwara, Mysuru Chamundeshwari, Nanjangudu Srikanteshwara. Banashankari Devi Bengaluru, Sri Huligemma Devi, Sri RenukaYallamma and Karnataka State ChoultriesThirumala.
All the 11 major temples have the distinction of earning a revenue of over Rs one crore annually.
Karnataka’s Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra, who is also in charge of Muzrai Department, launched the online services in Bengaluru on Thursday.
The minister said devotees can payments through debit/credit cards or net banking.
He said e-services would reduce role of middlemen and harassment to devotees visiting the pilgrim centres.
An individual having an identity card can book maximum two rooms for two days and this prevent bulk booking of many rooms by a single person and thereby deny the accommodation to other devotees, he explained.