Yellamma devotees ask for taps
Devotees who visit the city’s popular Yellamma temple in Balkampet complain that there are no water taps outside the premises where they can wash their feet before entering for darshan.
On Tuesdays and Sundays, over 30,000 devotees come for darshan and offer bonam. Furthermore, during the Bonalu festival, thousands of devotees from most of the districts come to the temple to perform Ashadamasam and Kalyanavotsavam.
“There were no water taps outside the temple premises. To enter the main gate of the Yellamma temple, I had to walk barefoot from the Nagama-Pochamma temple. According to our religion, we must bathe and wash our feet before entering any temple,” said P. Pranay, an NRI who visited the temple. He and his friends had booked a room at a hotel nearby to visit the temple. “We had to enter the temple compound, carry water in a plastic bag outside
and wash our feet before going to the temple,” Pranay said. “I request that the temple and endowment authorities provide at least five taps outside the temple for the convenience of the devotees.” “I've been going the Yellamma temple for 35 years, through good and bad times. I don't understand why they aren't installing taps for devotees to wash their feet, which is a
must,” said P. Geetha, another devotee. She added, “I have also complained to the temple authorities about it.”
Asked about the problem, Yellamma Devasthanam board chairman K. Saibaba Goud said, “We have plenty of water for the devotees. On Tuesdays and Sundays, when the temple is packed with devotees for darshan, we provide water tankers.” He said
following the Covid-19 safety protocols was mandatory.
“The police have given us strict orders to turn off the water. We have drinking water on the temple grounds, and we always have spare water tankers outside the temple for the devotees. If any devotee has an issue, they can directly come to our office at the first floor temple premises,” he said.