Empower Your Devotion: Seamlessly Book Sevas and Make Donations at Mangaladevi Temple’s Self-Service Kiosk!
A self-service kiosk installed by Canara Bank at the Mahatobhara Mangaladevi Temple in Mangaluru is quickly gaining traction among devotees looking to book sevas and make donations. This initiative, part of the bank’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts, allows patrons to conveniently manage their temple services without the need for cash.
Located near the temple’s seva counter, the kiosk has seen consistent use, with an average of ₹3,000 in sevas booked daily. Arun Kumar Aithal, the hereditary managing trustee of the temple, noted a significant spike in activity during the Varamahalakshmi festival, where bookings soared past ₹20,000. “The kiosk has streamlined the seva booking process, making it easier for devotees,” Aithal explained.
Previously, while the temple and other Muzrai temples offered an e-hundi system for digital donations via UPI, sevas had to be booked with cash. The limited access to ATMs near the Mangaladevi Temple posed a challenge for many devotees. Canara Bank’s kiosk, installed in March, aims to address this gap by providing a user-friendly interface for online payments.
The kiosk supports multiple languages, allowing devotees to select their preferred option. After entering their name and choosing either donations or sevas, users can browse a list of available services. Payment is made by scanning a QR code, and a receipt is produced for submission to the temple priest. Additionally, a user guide is displayed next to the machine for added convenience.
Among the services offered, the popular ‘hoovina puja’ is priced at ₹100. Other options include ‘vahana puja’ for two-wheelers at ₹20 and four-wheelers at ₹30, while ‘kunkumarchane’ costs ₹40. Several pujas are available for ₹50 each, including ‘appada puja’, ‘ashtottara puja’, ‘pushpanjali puja’, and ‘rudrabhisheka’. Larger services such as the ‘sarvajanika satyaranarayana puja’ and ‘alankara puja’ are priced at ₹100 and ₹200, respectively. For more elaborate rituals, ‘nitaya mahapuja’, ‘sarvalankara puja’, and ‘belli pallakki puja’ are available at ₹500. The ‘shashwata puja’ costs ₹2,000, with ‘sanna ranga puja’ and ‘dodda ranga puja’ priced at ₹2,500 and ₹35,000. The pricier sevas include ‘durga homa’ at ₹12,500 and ‘chandika yaga’ at ₹35,000.
For those preferring online options, the temple’s website, mangaladevitemple.com, allows for direct donations. The introduction of the kiosk follows a similar initiative launched at Udupi Sri Krishna Mutt, which was inaugurated by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in August.
This kiosk reflects a growing trend toward digital conveniences in religious spaces, combining tradition with modern technology to enhance the devotee experience. The response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive, illustrating the potential for such initiatives to thrive in various temple settings across India.
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/devotees-make-good-use-of-self-service-kiosk-to-book-sevas-make-donations-at-mangaladevi-temple/article70028633.ece
Category : Mangaluru
Tags:
Publish Date: 2025-09-09 20:41:00
