With the coronavirus outbreak and the subsequent lockdown, all business firms and industries have been affected, even our holy temples are no exceptions. Due to the financial crisis, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has decided to sell all the unnecesary lamps and traditional brass utensils in the temples under the board. However, lamps and utensils that are of regular use and for festival occasions will not be sold.

"Devaswom board is seeking all possible ways to overcome the financial crisis. There are unused lamps in almost all the temples. The board is trying to use the assets for raising fund instead of letting them remain unattended," said N Vasu, the president Travancore Devaswom Board.

For this, the board has started collecting valuables from all the 1248 temples under the board, which is expecting a huge sum of money. As ensuring the maintenance of the tonnes of lamps and utensils of every temple became a headache for the board, they opted to make it useful by selling them. Reportedly, the auction procedures for the same has already started.

A similar action was tried to be taken in 2012, but failed the temple advisory committees protested. This time too, certain temple advisory committee members have stood up against taking away the valuables which were donated by devotees.