Kukke Shri Subrahmanya temple administrator clarifies on viral pic of devotees sleeping on roadside

Kukke Sri Subrahmanya temple administrator and Puttur sub-divisional assistant commissioner Jubin Mohapatra informed that the authorities are taking additional measures to ensure that devotees do not face accommodation issues, especially on important days during their visit to the temple.

Recently a photo of several devotees sleeping on one side of Rathabeedi street in Kukke went viral on social media. It was alleged that the devotees were sleeping on the street due to lack of proper lodging facilities.

Netizens questioned the temple administration, asking how a temple generating hundreds of crores annually could lack accommodation facilities for its devotees.

Speaking to Udayavani, Mohapatra addressed the issue, stating that arrangements would be made in the temple’s dining hall for devotees who arrive at night and cannot find accommodation. Announcements regarding this have been made through loudspeakers previously, and such announcements will be made more frequently and loudly in the future.

He also mentioned that temple staff and security would guide devotees to the dining hall rooms to prevent them from sleeping on the roadside or on Rathabeedi Street.

He further informed that a master plan, including a proposal for constructing a lodging building for devotees, is on the cards. While a plan for building accommodations is ready, the enforcement of the model code of conduct has delayed the start of construction. However, he assured that the building construction would be undertaken soon.