Hyderabad: The Gods have come to the rescue of the people of Telangana.
Temples across the state under the Endowments department are now accepting the old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes for all puja tickets, providing huge relief to devotees during the auspicious Kartik masam.
After initial hiccups and confusion over acceptance of notes, the government and banks informed temples that they can accept demonetised notes till December 31. “We are accepting all demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes for puja tickets. Since the Endowment department is a government institution, temples under it will follow government procedures. Devotees are now returning to temples and pujas are normal,” said Ms N. Geeta, executive officer, Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Vari Devasthanam, Yadagirigutta.
Asked if old scrapped currencies were still being dropped in hundis, she said they were unaware of it. “We will know only when the hundi is opened. It’s normally done once a month.”
There are nearly 25 seva, service and pujas ranging from Rs 50 for Suprabhata Seva to Rs 51,116 for Sarvaseva Pathakam. Sri Ujjaini Mahankali temple executive officer Ms G. Annapurna said they were accepting demonetised notes for puja tickets and the annadanam scheme and other temple rituals.
Sources in some of the major temples say that many devotees were still dropping old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes in hundis. In some temples, for want of change, temple authorities are giving laddu prasadams.
