Puttur, July 30, 2025: The Karnataka government has announced a landmark decision to impose a total ban on the use of plastic products, specifically water bottles, in temples operated by the Hindu Religious institutions and Charitable Endowments Department starting from August 15, 2025. This environmental conservation measure encompasses all religious institutions under the department's purview, with the historic Shri Mahalingeshwara Temple in Puttur pioneering the implementation of this new policy.
Puttur Shri Mahalingeshwara Temple’s Proactive Measures
The management committee of Shri Mahalingeshwara Temple, headed by President Ishwar Bhat Panjigudde, has called on devotees to support the implementation of a plastic ban within the temple premises. In a media statement, Panjigudde affirmed, "In compliance with the government's circular prohibiting plastic usage in religious institutions, we will enforce the ban at Mahalingeshwara Temple. Plastic will not be utilized for distributing prasadam, conducting special poojas, or services such as Rudrabhisheka."
Devotees are requested to refrain from bringing plastic bags into the temple. To facilitate this transition, the temple will offer complimentary cloth bags for special prasadam and other amenities. For offerings like Rudrabhisheka, Kumkumarchana, Appakajaya, and Panchakajjaya, devotees can purchase cloth bags at the temple counter for Rs 5. This announcement was made in the presence of committee members Vinay Suvarna, Subhash Rai Bellippadi, and executive officer K V Srinivas.