Tamil Nadu temples in a deplorable condition, says HR&CE Minister Ramesh
Tamil Nadu HR&CE Minister S. Ramesh has criticized the state of temples in the region, labeling them as deplorable and accusing the previous administration of neglect. The government has initiated inspection and renovation plans to improve facilities for devotees.
Why it matters
The condition of religious sites is a significant political and cultural issue in Tamil Nadu, reflecting broader debates on governance and heritage management.
Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Minister S. Ramesh observed that the temples in Tamil Nadu were in “highly deplorable conditions.”
An inspection of 17 temples in Kumbakonam, associated with the Mahamagam event, revealed that they were in “a deplorable state,” the Minister said while addressing the media at Patteeswaram near Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district on Friday (September 11, 2026).
“For instance, inside the Nageswaran Temple at Thirunageswaram, there is no proper drainage system, resulting in a foul odour. Further, the Swamimalai Murugan Temple is currently in a state of neglect, though the previous regime had claimed that the DMK was the only party in Tamil Nadu to undertake renovation and other works in temples. One wonders if former Minister P.K. Sekarbabu had ever actually visited the Swamimalai Temple. They [the DMK] have been deceiving the public for the past five years,” the Minister alleged.
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