Hyderabad: It has been a running battle between God and Google, or rather the Chilkur Balaji temple and the internet search giant. At the heart of the problem are the timings during which the temple remains open to devotees, pilgrims, and visitors, and the schedule as displayed by Google.
“We have been trying to get Google to change the times it displays about the temple timings for months now. Some 500 devotees went online, followed through the edit and suggestion inputs that Google allows. Despite all that, Google shows that the temple is open from 6 am to 6 pm. These are not the correct times,” C.S. Rangarajan, the Chilkur Balaji temple priest said on Tuesday.
“The temple is open from 6 am to 1 pm, and then again from 4 pm, to 6 pm. We have been trying to get Google to change the time it currently says the temple is open,” Rangarajan said.
He said that post the Covid lockdowns, when everything was opened up, the Balaji temple remained closed for longer to ensure the safety of devotees. “Even during that period when we were closed, Google showed that the temple was open. Even then we took it to Google’s notice but our requests, online edits and suggestions were ignored. Google does not appear to be bothered even when it comes to a House of God,” Rangarajan said.
“Our request,” he said, is that Google reflect the correct times so devotees and visitors who rely on online information are not inconvenienced if they reach the temple during the hours it is closed.
