Mysuru: Mysuru MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar on Saturday launched an initiative to collect damaged religious idols and old religious photographs and facilitate their respectful disposal.
The programme, organised by Save Hindu Temple, was launched at Agrahara Circle in Mysuru. As part of the launch, Yaduveer placed an old damaged idol and religious photographs at the designated collection centre, marking the beginning of the initiative.
Initiative aims to provide a dignified alternative
Speaking at the launch, Yaduveer said religious idols and photographs that had been damaged or were no longer suitable for worship should be handled with the same respect with which they had been worshipped.
He said many families face uncertainty about what to do with old or damaged religious articles when they are replaced. According to him, the collection initiative is intended to provide a practical and dignified alternative for such items.
The MP also said the programme was intended not merely as a collection drive but as an awareness initiative focused on responsible handling of objects associated with religious faith.
He appealed to temples, community organisations and citizens to support the programme and participate in creating awareness about the initiative.
Designated collection points planned
Save Hindu Temple founder M M Nikhilesh said old or damaged idols and religious photographs are routinely replaced in homes and places of worship, but people may not always know how to dispose of them appropriately.
He said such religious articles should not be discarded along with regular household waste.
Under the initiative, designated collection points will be created where people can hand over damaged or unwanted religious articles. The aim is to make the process easier for families and provide a dedicated channel for handling such items.
The first collection centre has been established at Agrahara Circle, where the programme was formally launched.
Programme to initially focus on Mysuru
Nikhilesh said the programme would initially focus on Mysuru and could subsequently be expanded to other locations depending on the response from the public.
The organisation has urged temples, apartment associations and community groups to participate in the awareness campaign and help spread information about the collection points.
The initiative is also expected to encourage community-level participation in dealing with old religious articles, particularly when idols and photographs are replaced during renovation, relocation or other changes at homes and places of worship.
Awareness campaign alongside collection
The organisers said the programme is intended to go beyond the physical collection of damaged idols and photographs.
By creating designated points and encouraging institutions and community groups to participate, Save Hindu Temple aims to raise awareness about the handling of religious articles that are no longer suitable for worship.
For families, the initiative offers a designated avenue to hand over such articles instead of disposing of them with routine waste.
The organisers have called on residents, temples, apartment associations and other community organisations in Mysuru to support the awareness campaign and make use of the collection facility.
The launch at Agrahara Circle marks the beginning of the programme in Mysuru, with the organisation planning to assess the public response before considering expansion to additional locations.