A controversy has emerged during the ongoing Margazhi month festivals at Arulmigu Sri Alagirinatha Swamy Temple, a temple that is administered by the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department, with allegations from devotees that large sums of money were collected in connection with special poojas without proper transparency, prompting calls for an official inquiry.

According to a person associated with the temple, the Pagal Pathu and Ra Pathu festivals, rituals traditionally observed in Perumal temples during Margazhi, are currently underway, with the Sorga Vasal Thirappu (Opening of the Gates of Heaven) festival scheduled to follow. As per long-standing custom, devotees voluntarily bring offerings and seer varisai plates at their own expense, place them before the deity, and participate in poojas.

The individual stated that last year, a Margazhi festival committee associated with Thiruppavai and Thiruvempavai observances had arranged a special pooja with 101 seer varisai plates. This year, the same group is said to have expanded the offering to 501 plates for the Pagal Pathu festival beginning on Saturday.

Allegations have now surfaced from devotees and members of the public that a sum of ₹1,000 was collected per seer varisai plate. “Last year, it was alleged that ₹1,000 was collected for each of the 101 plates. This year, with 501 plates, people are alleging that ₹1,000 per plate has again been collected,” the temple-associated individual said.

If the allegation is true, the total amount collected would be around ₹5 lakh. “The question is whether receipts were issued for this amount and whether the money was deposited into the accounts of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department,” he said. “If ₹5 lakh was collected, where has it gone? Has it reached the temple or the HR&CE department, or has it been shared among officials and trustees?”

The speaker said that while the temple administration has denied the allegations, the issue requires clarification. “From the temple side, they say no such collection took place and that only fixed pooja charges are collected with proper receipts. But from the public side, this allegation is being raised. Whether it is true or not, an inquiry must be conducted and the facts placed before devotees,” he said.

Questioning the fairness of the alleged practice, he added that devotees visit temples “with devotion, bringing offerings and performing poojas out of faith,” and that collecting additional amounts without transparent accounting would be unjust. “If money is collected, accounts must be shown. Hiding details and refusing to disclose accounts only raises further suspicion,” he said.

The matter has triggered calls from devotees for the temple administration and the HR&CE department to clarify whether any such collections were made, whether receipts were issued, and how the funds, if collected, were utilised.

 

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The post Devotees Allege ₹1,000 Per Seer Varisai Plate Collected For Margazhi Month Rituals At HR&CE-Administered Sri Alagirinatha Swamy Temple In Salem appeared first on The Commune.