BJP Tamil Nadu unit president K. Annamalai being felicitated by Temple Connect founder Giresh Kulkarni at the ITCX 2025 conducted in Tirupati on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: K.V. Poornachandra Kumar
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Tamil Nadu president K. Annamalai has reiterated the party’s resolve to free Hindu temples from government control by abolishing governing bodies like the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Act, once the NDA comes to power in Tamil Nadu.
Mr. Annamalai made the observation during his address on the second day of the International Temples Convention and Expo (ITCX 2025), where he dwelt at length on temple economy and autonomy.
The key denominator connecting all temples is the temple economy, Mr. Annamalai said, projecting the market cap valuation of Tirupati temple alone at ₹2.5 lakh crore, which, according to him, was larger than many international and national organisations. “The laws such as the HR&CE Act are posing a threat to the economic boost of the temples, and in turn, the economy of the country as a whole.”
While hailing the efforts of the ITCX and Temple Connect in bringing different generations of the followers of Sanatana Dharma on a single platform, the former IPS officer also thanked the organisers for choosing Tirupati after Varanasi, thus giving a much-needed focus on the temple ecosystem.
He called for efforts to take temple economy to another level and at the same time, rediscover the lost glimpses of the rich heritage and bring it to the mainstream. “With the enthusiastic youth on one side and the elders guiding us on the other, it is time for us to rediscover what we have lost over the last 250 years”, he observed.
Toeing a similar line, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) general secretary Milind Parande also proposed a new act and a think tank to liberate Hindu temples from the government control and announced to submit proposals to this effect to various Chief Ministers.
Srilasri Narayana Desika Swamigal, the 14th pontiff of Kovilur Mutt, emphasised the role of the Chettiar community in preserving India’s spiritual heritage.
Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan Trust’s former chairman Suresh Haware, Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research Director Uday Salunkhe explained the need for temple education in today’s age. R. Vidyullatha of Mysuru Chamundeswari Shaktipeeth highlighted the role of Chamundeswari temple and the ‘Mysuru Navaratri’ festival in keeping the temple tradition alive.
Published – February 19, 2025 08:02 am IST
