Minister offers silk robes at Kanipakam temple

Andhra Pradesh is stepping up efforts to promote temple-based spirituality, with the government implementing the Dhupa Deepa Naivedyam scheme in 6,254 temples and spending around ₹75 crore annually, said Edowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy on Monday.

Mr. Reddy made the statement after offering silk robes on behalf of the State government to Sri Varasiddi Vinayaka Swamy at Kanipakam on the opening day of the temple’s annual Brahmotsavams, which will continue till October 4.

He said the monthly assistance under the scheme had been doubled from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000. The government has sanctioned ₹908 crore through the Common Good Fund for development and reconstruction works in 767 temples, he said. The State has also set a target of constructing 5,000 bhajana mandirs through Sri Vani Trust, with an allocation of around ₹750 crore. So far, ₹609 crore has been sanctioned for 1,788 such centres.