Sanatan Prabhat > Location > Asia > India > Maharashtra > Discussions to be held on various subjects including Govt control over temples, attacks on temples, implementing Dress Code in temples, etc.

Discussions to be held on various subjects including Govt control over temples, attacks on temples, implementing Dress Code in temples, etc.

The second ‘Maharashtra Mandir Nyas Parishad’ organised at Ozar – Sunil Ghanwat, Coordinator, Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh

Pune – Temples are the foundation of the Hindu Dharma. The Divine energy emanating from temples draws people to temples even in these modern times. It is, therefore, the duty of every Hindu to preserve the sacredness of temples and to preserve the principle of the presiding Deity in the temple. It is, therefore, essential to perform ritualistic worship in temples; conserve the ancient temple culture; solve various problems faced by temples; provide facilities to devotees going to temples for Darshan; good management of the crowd queuing up for Darshan outside temples; and protection of temple traditions. For this, it is necessary to bring together temple trustees, priests, devotees, etc.

The second ‘Maharashtra Mandir Nyas Parishad’ has been jointly organised, with this aim, by Shri Vighnahar Ganapati Mandir Devasthan, Lenyadri Mandir Devasthan, ShriKshetra Bhimashankar Devasthan, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS), and Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh, on the 2nd and 3rd of December 2023 at Shri Vighnahar Hall, Ozar, District Pune. More than 550 invited temple trustees, representatives, priests, and advocates fighting legal cases for the protection of temples, scholars, etc from across Maharashtra will attend this Parishad (Conference). The above information was given by Mr Sunil Ghanwat, the Coordinator of Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh, during a press conference held at Shramik Patrakar Bhavan, Pune on the 28th of November 2023.

The press conference was attended by Smt Sangita Thakar (Trustee of Gram-Daivat Kasaba Ganapati), Mr Vidyadhar Nargolkar (Mahamantri of Swatantryaveer Savarkar Smruti Pratishthan), Mr Ramesh Oswal (Secretary, Pune District Jain Mahasangh), Advocate Dattatreya Devale (Trustee of Shri Datta Mandir, Karmala), Mr Madhukar Ramkrushna Gawande (Trustee of Bhimashankar Devasthan) and Mr Parag Gokhale of HJS.

More than 200 trustees from Pune District to attend the Conference

Mr Sunil Ghanwat said further, “Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh (Mahasangh) was set up during the first ‘Maharashtra Mandir Nyas Parishad’ held at Jalgaon. The activities of Mahasangh are increasing with time and have spread all over Maharashtra in 4 months.

The issue related to the Dress Code was taken up earlier and has resulted in 262 temples implementing it within six months and many temples are adopting it. Meetings with temple trustees are going on and more than 200 trustees from Pune District will be attending the Conference.

Views expressed by eminent personalities attending the press conference

A maximum number of trustees should attend this Conference at Ozar – Madhukar Gawande, Trustee, Bhimashankar Devasthan

Many temple trustees attended the first Conference held at Jalgaon. Various issues were discussed during that Conference, including the protection of temple traditions; releasing temples from the Government’s control; implementing a Dress Code in temples, etc. and efforts were made to effectively accomplish the goals. The joint efforts have borne fruits. The next step is the forthcoming Conference and maximum temple trustees should attend the Conference at Ozar.

Appeal to Jain community to join the activities of Mahasangh – Ramesh Oswal, Secretary, Pune District Jain Mahasangh

The unification of temple trustees taking place in the background of this Conference is very important. Discussions will also have to be held about temples taken over under ‘Wakf Law’ and ‘Places of Worship Act, 1991’; the wrong way of conferring overall rights to the Wakf Board to take over any property, etc. Issues like starting Gowshala for the protection of cows and how temples can be used for the benefit of Hindus also need to be taken up for deliberations. I don’t think there is much difference between Hindu Dharma and Jain Dharma or the Jain community; therefore, I appeal to all Jains to join in the activities of temple trustees.

Eminent personalities who will be attending the Conference

Supreme Court’s advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain (Spokesperson of Hindu Front for Justice), Mr Nilesh Khare (Editor of Zee 24 Taas news channel), temple trustees of Shri Ashtavinayak Mandir, Jyotirlinga Devasthan of Maharashtra; representatives of Sant-Peetha, trustees of Sant Tukaram Maharaj Mandir (Dehu), Nath Mandir (Paithan), Shriram Mandir (Gondavale), Ganapatipule Mandir (Ratnagiri), Shri Ekvira Devi Mandir, Mangal-Grah Mandir (Amalner), besides Mr Chetan Rajhans (National Spokesperson of Sanatan Sanstha), Mr Ramesh Shinde (National Spokesperson of HJS).

Issues to be discussed in the Conference

There will be guidance by eminent personalities and discussion sessions on matters related to temples; including how to make temples into ‘Dharmaprasar’ centres, release of temples from the Government’s control, solution to encroachment on temple lands by Waqf Board under Waqf Law, imposing a ban on the sale of meat-liquor in and around temple premises, the revival of neglected temples, etc.

This Conference is only for invitees; therefore, Mandir Mahasangh has appealed to interested people to contact 7020383264 to participate in the Conference.

Latest Articles