VHP’s pre-Diwali drive to clean temples and install saffron flags

An initiative by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Mandir Archak Purohit
To be implemented in Maharashtra and Goa

Mumbai – Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Mandir Archak Purohit have appealed to the trustees of various temples in Maharashtra and Goa, to clean the temples, install saffron flag and decorate temple with attractive lighting before Diwali this year. The drive will be implemented on October 20^th from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.

1. This year, VHP will conduct cleanliness drive in at least 5,000 religious places in the States of Maharashtra and Goa to clean everything from the garbha-gruha to premises of the temples.

2. Meetings in this regard have been held in 14 Districts of Devagiri province and the list of temples has been prepared. Cleanliness drive is going to be implemented across 2,000 religious places in Devagiri province.

3. Slogans like ‘My Temple, My Responsibility’ have been prepared by the devotees. Many temples have planned to put up boards outside the temples asking devotees to register their names to participate in cleaning drive.

Purpose of the campaign

The campaign aims to enable devotees to involve themselves in the overall system of the religious place without limiting themselves to simply visiting the place, taking darshan, prasad, and Mahaprasad. The temple cleaning drive is free of charge and inculcates a sense of service. Every temple should be clean, beautiful, pleasant, and holy, this is the expectation of Hindu culture and that is the stand of VHP as well. This campaign is intended towards this purpose.

VHP’s appeal

Vishwa Hindu Parishad is going to make an appeal to all the temples to light up all the temples on the day of Diwali. There should be a big saffron flag at a prominent place in the temple. If a small flag is already placed, it should be made better and put up in a place where it can be seen by all. The flag installed on the temple on Gudi Padwa should be changed on the day of Diwali. Vishwa Hindu Parishad has appealed that in order to convey the message of harmony that temples belong to all the elements of the society and everyone has a place in it, and also to connect the young generation to the temples, the saffron flag should be worshiped by young couples.