Emphasizing the need to need to preserve the culture and the ‘Dev Pratha’ of the State, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said the Government was committed for preserving the rich traditions and rituals of deities in the State.
He was presiding over the meeting of the Kardar Sangh in Dev Sadan at Kullu today. He said our deities were inseparable part of our life and we were recognized because of our customs, culture and language.
Chief Minister said that government had made provision of 12.50 crore for religious ceremonies and rituals to be performed in the temples which.
The Chief Minister said that under the Tenancy Act, the land of the deities was transferred to tenants and the then service renderers looking after work of deities. Few of them became the owners of the land which was allotted in the name of Devtas and in few cases the care takers themselves became the landowners with no one after to look into the affairs of the Gods and Goddesses and performing day to day rituals.
He said now the government has kept a revolving fund of rupees five crore for giving grants to the temples every year and the repair and renovations of the temples will be met with additional fund apart from the Grant, which was to be provided by the department of Language art and Culture. CM stated
“We should keep the Pahari Architect of the Temples alive during its renovations and repairs and the funds won’t be any constraint for meeting out the requirements”
Dot Rama Thakur, President Kardar Sangh Kullu district and T.C Mahant, General Secretary welcomed and honoured the Chief Minister and placed their demands. They demanded that the funds for the care and maintenance of the temples of the Local deities should directly come to Kardars and not through Panchayats.
