Karnataka’s temples that had shut their doors for devotees for over two months now will open them from 1 June.

While the detailed SOP for the same is yet to be published, the Muzrai department announced that it would open the temples under its administration for devotees.

“Owing to the demand by devotees to be open temples for worship and rituals, we have decided to open all temples from June 1 ensuring social-distancing norms and hygiene factor are adhered to,” said Minister for Muzrai Kota Srinivas Poojary yesterday.

All fairs and functions will continue to be prohibited.

The department, which controls the administration of around 36,000 temples in the state, has also launched a portal where devotees can pre-book online sevas and rituals and the prasad of the same will be delivered to their homes by post.

The e-portal for online booking of sevas is called ‘Pureprayer’

This app-based online seva booking facility was launched by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa yesterday and will offer virtual booking of sevas at around 50 ‘A’ grade temples in the state including Sri Mookambika Temple in Kollur, Kukke Sri Subramanya Temple, Renuka Yellamma Temple in Saundatti, Banashankari, among others.

A few of them already had this facility and raked in substantial revenue for the temples, and hence the service is being extended to other prominent temples under the state administration.

Last year, Kukke Subramanya temple had 32,000 Sarpa Samskaras via online booking, while around 3,000 sevas at Kollur were booked virtually.

“In the Chamundeshwari temple, sevas worth Rs 49 lakh were booked online,” said Poojary.

These temples are all high-revenue earning ones which have been reporting ‘losses’ since the lockdown was announced, compared to what the temples earned last year during this season.

This time of the year is also the time when temples see the highest footfalls owing to vacations and annual fairs, which have all been called off owing to the pandemic.

The Kukke Subramanya temple though, which has been shut for devotees for the last tow months, reported a revenue boost despite the floods last year and the lockdown in March.

The FY 2019-2020 saw a jump of Rs 6 crore in its annual revenue.

Its annual income, which had dropped to Rs 92 crore in 2012-19 from Rs 95.9 crore in 2017-18, saw an annual income of Rs 98.9 crore for 2019-20.

Its annual collection from Hundi money alone is at Rs 18.2 crore.

The opening of these religious places though is subject to the Centre’s instructions on the same, which is expected by the end of of this month, as reported.

In which case, all other places, including churches and mosques too, may open their doors to people.