TN Guv dedicates renovated 'theerthams' at Rameswaram

Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit Saturday dedicated to the nation 30 'theerthams' includingthe "Mangala Theertham" after they were unearthed and renovated for the benefit of pilgrims visiting Ramanathasamy temple here.

The temple originally had 64 'theerthams' (holy water bodies), of which only 22 were in use while the rest gotlost either due to the 1964 cyclone or encroachment.

As a result of the initiatives taken by former President A P J Abdul Kalam and Vivekananda Kendra and the temple administration, 30 water sites which had got buried in the sand dunes were unearthed andrenovated at a cost of Rs five crore.

The governor dedicated the holy water sites after special poojas were performed at"Mangala Theertham" at Thangachimadam on this island.

The Governor said the dedication function would bring to light how the holy water sites had beenretrieved.

He said no pilgrimage would be complete without a visit to the Rameswaram temple.

People from across the country visit the famous Ramanathasamy temple in the island town.

Purohit recalled the "Green Rameswaram" initiatives taken by Kalam.

He said polythene bags played a major role in destroying theenvironment of the country, adding steps were being taken to eradicate plastic in a phased manner.

Earlier, he participated in "Clean India" awareness programmes at Mandapam and Pattinamkathan near here.

He interacted with school students and also asked them to take a pledge to keep the environment clean.

The Governor also distributed cloth bags to shopkeepers to create awareness against the use of plastic.