Vijayawada: Uneasy over not getting the freshest possible flowers to offer to the deity, authorities of various temples within the city limits have now decided to take matters in their own hands and have started to maintain flower gardens.
Doing so has paid immediate dividends and has been welcomed by one and all, so much so that donors have come forward to help maintain these flower gardens. Not only do the temples get fresh flowers to be offered to the deities, but the flower gardens also help cut costs.?
Sri Ramalingeswara swami temple in Yanamalakuduru on the outskirts of the city has started its own flower garden at Kamayyathopu centre. Sanga Narasimha Rao, a city-based industrialist and philanthropist, started the flower garden on his two acres of land so that fresh flowers can be sent to the historical temple.
Rao coordinated with the temple officials to finalise the plans and planted 33 varieties of flower plants that were collected from various parts of the country. Following these efforts, the temple may get flowers from the garden in time for the auspicious occasion of Maha Sivarathri in March. Officials said that nearly Rs 50,000 is being spent every month to maintain the garden.
Rao said that he has hired four gardeners to maintain the garden and has already spent about Rs 2 lakh for collecting the plants.
It may be mentioned here that he has earlier spent about Rs 4 crore for the remodeling of the entire Sri Ramaling-eswara Swami temple. Likewise, officials of the historic Durga temple have also started its own flowers garden at Seethanagaram of Guntur district.
The temple officials have planted 27 varieties of Nakshatra plants in three acres of land that was donated by a philanthropist. Presently, the officials are plucking rose and chamanti flower plants to be used for decorating the deity.
Temple EO V. Trinadha Rao said that plans were afoot to increase the varieties of the flower plants by collecting them from various parts of the country.
Similarly, the Saibaba temple at Mutyalampadu is also maintaining a small garden on its premises. Flowers from this garden are being used to decorate the deity. “Some devotees are ready to donate towards the maintenance of the flower garden,” said G. Venkateswara Rao, a devotee.
