Madurai Meenakshi wins cleanest iconic place award

[Vinayaka]

For anyone who has been to those large Indian temples, dust and dirt can be a distraction. The idea of cleanliness inside those vast stone halls, what with all the smoke from lamps, camphor, etc. just seems so far off. But a few people in Madurai changed that. It recently won this award, ahead of places like the Taj Mahal. It would be nice if many other of those ancient places would take this as an example. Here's a news article about how they did it.

How Madurai Meenakshi temple attained the cleanliness feat

 

[sayak83]

For anyone who has been to those large Indian temples, dust and dirt can be a distraction. The idea of cleanliness inside those vast stone halls, what with all the smoke from lamps, camphor, etc. just seems so far off. But a few people in Madurai changed that. It recently won this award, ahead of places like the Taj Mahal. It would be nice if many other of those ancient places would take this as an example. Here's a news article about how they did it.

How Madurai Meenakshi temple attained the cleanliness feat

I like cleanliness. But let's not make them antiseptic places in the name of cleanliness. Let there be cats, dogs, cows, birds and a (non venomous) insects and lizards hanging around the premises and the trees and shrubs. Also let's try to avoid insecticides and harsh chemicals. Poisoning the earth and water is not the way to keep things clean.

Also let's not displace homeless and disabled folks from the premises in the name of "cleanliness".

 

[Aupmanyav]

Also let's not displace homeless and disabled folks from the premises in the name of "cleanliness".

Yes, littering the temples and polluting the rivers should be stopped. Homeless and disabled folk can be managed in other ways (rather than begging in or around temples). They should be given 'aadhar' (ID) cards and maintenance. Many states have this.

 

[DeviChaaya]

Yes, littering the temples and polluting the rivers should be stopped. Homeless and disabled folk can be managed in other ways (rather than begging in or around temples). They should be given 'aadhar' (ID) cards and maintenance. Many states have this.

I believe that the homeless and the disabled that often surround temples could always be put to use. Those who are able to work could help with keeping the place clean while those who are incapacitated could be looked after by the facility as a kind of seva. Food and lodging and dignity could easily be supplied by these temples and it could even become an attraction. 'Look at how we care for our least fortunate; just because this is a result of karma does not mean we cannot help them mitigate it'.