CHENNAI: Chief Minister Edappady K. Palaniswami received the Unesco Award of Merit awarded to the iconic Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam (Tiruchy), in November last.
The Award of Merit, 2017, was given by Unesco Asia Pacific region for the cultural heritage conservation activities taken up at the temple without altering its original splendour. A delegation led by the temple trustee committee chairman Venu Srinivasan and comprising of trustees: Dr. K. N. Srinivasan, Kavita Jagadeesan, S.D. Regachari, S. Venkatesh Uthamanambi and archakar Sundar Battar, called on the CM and showed him the Award of Merit.
Mr. Palaniswami congratulated the temple administration for their yeoman service and in achieving the award from UNESCO.
The ancient Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu who is seen in reclining form. The temple which is among the 108 Divya Desams, is spread on a sprawling ground of over 156 acres and it is one of the largest temples in worship in the world.
The samprokshanam to the temple was performed in 2015 after the then Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, ensured the renovation of 11 majestic gopurams and 43 shrines in the Ranganathaswamy Temple, at a cost of Rs. 25 crores. Further, about Rs 1 crore was spent to take up electrical works in the entire temple complex and desilting the Chandrapushkarani and Suryapushkarani.
