Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Apr 23: The state's plan to use religious tourism to attract tourists and provide an avenue of income for the people living around religious centres has met with failure for two successive years. Last year, water shortage ruined the plan, and during this year, the state is grappling with coronavirus scare. Tourism department does not see any signs of recovery at least for the next about eight to nine months.

During the last year, major pilgrimage centres like Dharmasthala, Koodala Sangama, Kollur, Gokarna, Bhagamandala and Subrahmanya had suffered from water scarcity. Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Dr D Veerendra Heggade had given a call to the devotees to postpone their visit to Dharmasthala. In some temples, even the ponds, water of which was used for ceremonial bath of the idol of the presiding deity had gone dry. Sri Krishna Math at Udupi to a large extent, had to rely on tanker waters.

Kota Srinivas Poojary

Restrictions are in place in all the Muzrai temples in Karnataka now because of the lockdown norms as per which crowds cannot gather and social distance has to be maintained. Tourists used to come to temples in Karnataka, particularly those located in the coast, but this time all roads have been blocked due to lockdown. Even festivities including car festivals have become a subdued affair without the participation of the general public. April and May used to be the months where the temples were flocked by devotees but this time the temples are wearing a deserted look.

Muzrai minister Kota Srinivas Poojary has noted that the religious tourism has hit a new low since the last two years and this has resulted in loss of revenue to the tune of several crores of rupees. This will in turn will adversely affect the development plans of the state, he commented.