This story is from June 29, 2022

Karnataka: Jogavvas want basic facilities at Saundatti Renuka temple

Temple of goddess Renuka Yellamma in Saundatti is one of the top 10 revenue earning temples in the state and the government is also contemplating developing it on the line of Kashi Vishwanath temple. Yet, the devotees are crying for the basic facilities.
Karnataka: Jogavvas want basic facilities at Saundatti Renuka temple
Temple of goddess Renuka Yellamma in Saundatti
BELAGAVI: Temple of goddess Renuka Yellamma in Saundatti is one of the top 10 revenue earning temples in the state and the government is also contemplating developing it on the line of Kashi Vishwanath temple. Yet, the devotees are crying for the basic facilities.
In a first, jogavvas, female volunteers in the service of goddess Yellamma, protested on the premises of Belagavi DC office demanding basic facilities in the temple.

The Jogavvas came with their bamboo baskets which they use for begging, and chanted slogans about goddess on the DC office premises. They expressed their angst against the temple management and the local administration for their negligence towards the mess around the temple. The protesters said there is no hygiene while drinking water and clean toilets are not available. The jogavvas accused the temple administration of indulging in massive corruption.
The jogavvas visit the temple at least twice in a year. They stay there and take part in rituals for two to three days. They also prepare food on the temple premises as a part of a ritual and offer the same to the deity. The jogavvas alleged that there are no facilities at the temple even though devotees donate crores of rupees every year.
“There are no affordable rooms available for rent. We cannot afford the ones present. We beg and collect money for the service of the deity. But the situation in the premises of temple is only worsening. We are facing a lot of problems and hope the district administration will hear our plight,” they said.
This is not the first time when lack of facilities at the Renuka Yellamma temple was highlighted. A couple of years ago, devotees from Maharashtra had submitted a memorandum to the district administration demanding basic facilities at the temple. Lakhs of devotees throng the temple, especially during full moon.
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