In a move aimed at promoting transparency and trust among devotees, the Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar has distributed clothes without pockets to its priests and staff. This decision comes amid a nationwide debate on the need for transparent systems in handling offerings and donations at religious sites, sparked by allegations of misappropriation at the Ayodhya Ram temple and Badrinath Dham. The temple’s decision was made in response to the ongoing controversy, with Mahant Ravindrapuri, President of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad and the Mansa Devi Temple Trust, stating that the move was made to ensure priests perform their duties without the possibility of pocketing offerings.
According to Ravindrapuri, the actions of a few individuals have cast doubt on the entire temple management and the Sanatan tradition, prompting the trust to take this step to maintain devotees’ trust. Ravindrapuri emphasized that the temple is committed to providing receipts to devotees for their donations and ensuring that not a single rupee is misappropriated. The temple has also installed 65 CCTV cameras across the complex to enable all-round monitoring.
From now on, all priests and staff at the temple will wear the pocketless garments, with the staff extending their full cooperation to the temple trust in this initiative. Devotees visiting the temple have welcomed the decision, stating that such measures will further strengthen the faith of pilgrims.
