Over 1K prasad packets dispatched from Kukke

Mangaluru: Muzrai department's e-prasad initiative received an overwhelming response from devotees at Kukke Sri Subrahmanya temple in Dakshina Kannada, and Kollur Sri Mookambika temple in Udupi. Over 1,000 prasad packets were dispatched from Kukke, within a week of its formal launch.
Temple executive officer Aravinda Ayyappa Suthagundi told TOI that more than 1,000 prasad packets were dispatched in the past 15 days. Details of devotees are collected weekly, and prasad is sent accordingly.
"Currently, devotees are receiving prasad packets worth Rs 100, which include the ‘sriganda', mud from moola, and dry fruit prasad. Temple will also introduce premium prasad packets worth Rs 350 and Rs 500, which will include a silver photo of the deity, depending on the demand," he said.
"To streamline accommodation, temple will soon make online booking mandatory for all rooms. A total of 210 rooms are currently available for online booking, including 150 rooms from Anagha and 125 rooms from Ashlesha. The temple is planning to construct 400 more rooms. The estimate for which is already prepared as per Muzrai commissioner's directions. This plan will include a dormitory service," he added.
Considering the holiday rush, apart from the regular meals hall, alternate arrangements will also be made for ‘Anna Prasada.' The temple is expecting at least 10,000-15,000 devotees every day, from April 10. Next week, a development meeting is scheduled to discuss further improvements, the temple officer continued.
At Kollur
Kollur Mookambika temple sent around 51 prasad packets to devotees under the new e-prasad programme. Preparations for the dispatch began a week before the official launch. Currently, devotees are receiving prasad worth Rs 150, which includes Kumkum prasad, Basma prasad, Mahatrimadura prasad, a sacred thread, a laminated pocket-sized photo of the goddess, and a brochure detailing the temple's history, accommodation options, seva list, and special days, said temple staff Ganesh Udupa.
"We are also offering premium prasad options worth Rs 350 packets with a bigger photo of the goddess and saree prasad, along with Arashina and Kumkum worth Rs 500. So far, 14 photos and seven sarees have been dispatched to devotees," he said.
Further, he added that the temple receives around 100 sarees per day from devotees, during peak seasons. The annual revenue from saree sales is approximately Rs 2 crore. The temple sees an average footfall of 17,000 devotees daily, with around 10,000 availing the ‘Anna Prasad.'
"If the e-prasad system proves successful, we plan to expand the offerings to include more seva prasad. Many devotees offer Alankara puja and other sevas as well. We are considering providing video clips of the seva performed in the name the devotee's name as part of the package," he added.