Karnataka temples to live stream poojas and sevas soon

Karnataka Muzrai department has now planned to enable the devotees to have the Darshan of their deity online, pay obeisance, book for services, and also to be able to view the proceedings by making the booking online during Coronavirus lockdown.

Banglore: With temples yet to open for devotees as COVID-19 restrictions are in place, the Karnataka government is preparing for live streaming of sevas (service) and poojas offered to deities at temples that come under the state's Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment Department.

The Muzrai department planned to develop a mobile app and web-based software to provide details of all the services that can be rendered in 'A' category temples and information about services for which online reservations can be made.

The commissioner of the department has already written to all the deputy commissioners and executive officers of temples about the direct webcast of the services offered to the Lord at the temple of respective temples.

The commissioner has sought a list of temples where such arrangements for online viewing can be arranged.

The commissioner has written to the executive officers, administrative officers and hereditary trustees of 'A’ category temples seeking details needed for mobile app and website immediately.

"It has been intended to do online live streaming of sevas and pooja rituals at temples that come under the department in the backdrop of COVID-19 crisis. In this regard it is requested to provide a list of temples where online live facility can be provided to devotees, by abiding the traditions and practices of the temple," the letter said.

Though the temples are holding daily poojas and rituals, they are not open to public for now, with COVID-19 induced lockdown restrictions in place.

Officials had recently had said that the department was planning to have a standard operating procedure (SOP) in place, that needs to be followed at temples in a post lockdown scenario, once they are opened for the public.

There are over 34,000 temples in the state that come under the department.

Meanwhile, in another letter to DCs of 15 districts, also Executive officers and administrators of 'A' grade temples, aimed at the development of the app and web-based software, the Commissioner has sought information regarding sevas offered at temples in their jurisdictions and those sevas for which option can be provided for devotees to do advance booking.

It said conditional approval has been given to Spiritual Products Private Limited, Mysuru, to develop the app and web-based software free of cost.